Thrilling race action as Pontefract’s 2026 season is off to sunny start
Pontefract Racecourse are up and running with their first meeting of the 2026 season getting under way against a backdrop of blue skies and resplendent sunshine.
The season began with the six-furlong Every Raceday is Autism Friendly at Pontefract Novice Stakes and Invincible Boy was a popular winner, writes Alexia Chesters.
Always travelling nicely in the hands of Cam Hardie, he came clear inside the final furlong to score in decisive fashion for the Richard and Peter Fahey team.
There was an upset in the Boyzlife Live at Ponte Friday 22nd May Maiden stakes as the Fahey-trained long odds-on favourite Arabian Desert was turned over by the Ed Bethell representative, Haayimm under Cal Rodriguez.
The three-year-old son of Gleneagles appreciated every yard of the one-mile trip and he looks one to follow in the coming months.
He was winning a race named to highlight one of the Pontefract track’s biggest nights of the year ahead when Boyzlife – the supergroup formed by Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and Westlife’s Brian McFadden – will be appearing after racing on May 22.
The two divisions of the one-mile Racing TV Sky Channel 424 Handicap provided the best finishes of the day in the opening meeting.
The first of the two went to Zowal and Jason Hart who gamely repelled the challenge of Kokanee to win for John and Sean Quinn.
The second division saw the Ivan Furtado-trained Sailthisshipalone prevail narrowly under Hollie Doyle.
Feature race of the day was the Ponte Premiership New for 2026 Handicap over five furlongs and Arklow Lad, who brought some solid recent all-weather form to the table, recorded a third career success with Harry Davies in the saddle.
This was only his third run for Mick Appleby and he looks a progressive sprinter with more still to offer.
The Ben Haslam-trained Lightning Company was a popular winner of the Tommy Hepple Memorial Handicap.
Relishing every yard of the one mile, four furlong test, he got up in the shadows of the post to win under Andrew Mullen and he is likely to return to Pontefract to bid for further success later in the season.
The penultimate race was the OAP Free Day Tuesday 21st April Handicap and Maynora and David Allan came out on top for trainer Craig Lidster.
This was his first career success, but it is unlikely that the handicapper will overreact and it would be no surprise to see him remain competitive for as long as the ground remains on the softer side.
Ruth Carr makes no secret of her love for winners at Pontefract (or anywhere for that matter!) and her Jojo Rabbit took the finale, making all to score under Joanna Mason.
Ponte’s next meeting is on Monday (April 14) and includes the Pontefract Marathon over 2m5f – making it the longest handicap race run on the flat in this country/
It is also OAP Free Day and over 60s can register for a free ticket via the website (pontefract-races.co.uk).