Big crowd at Pontefract as favourites do the business in latest meeting

A great evening of racing was followed by music from the fantastic Queen tribute band, ‘Flash’, enjoyed by a partying crowd, writes Jonathan Mullin.

The action on the track began with the 1m4f Babs Woolford Memorial Apprentice Classified Stakes, which was won in decisive fashion by odds-on favourite Hamsteen and Jake Dickson.

The John and Sean Quinn-trained gelding was gaining his first career success, having finished runner-up on his previous outing at Ripon.

The G3 Vehicle Auctions EBF Restricted Novice Stakes over a six-furlong trip went the way of the well supported favourite Angel In My Heart.

Adrian Keatley’s representative quickened well in the closing stages to get off the mark at the second time of asking under Oisin McSweeney.

Badri made it a hat-trick of Pontefract wins, taking the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap.

The drop back to five furlongs posed no problem to Michael Herrington’s in-form sprinter and he came with a late challenge to justify favouritism under Connor Whiteley.

Best Rate made it four winning favourites on the bounce in the one-mile Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap.

Richard Hannon’s representative overcame a slow start and shot clear of his rivals, in the hands of Seamus Cronin, to follow up on his Ascot success a week earlier.

The Peter Chamberlain Five Year Memorial Handicap delivered a fifth consecutive winning favourite as Alfa Whiteburd made every yard of the running over the six-furlong trip to win under Silvestre de Sousa.

The Ivan Furtado-trained five-year-old won impressively at Chester the previous week and he might be one to keep on the right side of while in such fantastic form.

The finale was the Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap and although the winner, Mount King, was not favourite he was still very well supported.

Tim Easterby’s charge was having his fifth run of the season at Pontefract and shot to the top of the standings in the Ponte Premiership with this success under jockey Dave Allan.

Shortly afterwards, Flash took to the stage and delivered a great show to a very enthusiastic Ponte crowd.

The next meeting at Pontefract takes place this Sunday and it is Summer Soundtrack Family Day with lots going on for all the family and McFlusted performing after racing.

Gates open at 11.30am, first race is at 2.30pm and the last one at 5pm.

Get your tickets at the racecourse website, which can be found at pontefract-races.co.uk