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SKY BET SUNDAY SERIES DATE: Sunday 25th June 2023

LOCATION: Pontefract Park, Park Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4QD

Historical documents record racing taking place in the Pontefract area as early as 1648. An ever-changing political landscape – the local castle was seized by Oliver Cromwell’s forces – meant there were various interruptions to racing over the next one hundred and fifty years.

Racing resumed properly in 1801, and quickly grew in popularity, until ‘fashionably attended’ by townsfolk by 1827. By 1952, Pontefract had installed photo-finish facilities, and was the first racecourse in the country to introduce racehorse substance testing.

The track itself was originally a 1m4f horseshoe, but it converted to a full circuit in 1983. It was a long-term tradition for Pontefract to start its afternoon races at 2.25pm (much later than elsewhere) to allow the miners at the adjacent colliery to finish their morning working shift. That tradition ended when the colliery closed in 2002.

Pontefract is a left-handed, undulating two-mile circuit with a straight of just over two furlongs. The final six-furlongs are uphill, and this can place an emphasis on stamina. When the ground conditions are particularly soft later in the season, the runners will often deviate towards the stands’ side rail in search of a better strip of racing ground.

With such an expansive racing circuit available, the popular Pontefract Stayers Championship runs throughout the season. Pontefract has always been synonymous with the stayers, and most will recall the exploits of Sue Lamyman’s four-time course winner Jamaican Flight.

Over the last five years, the North Yorkshire powerhouses of Tim Easterby (27-260; 10%, -£63.21) and Richard Fahey (25-202; 12%, -£17.21) have led the way at Pontefract.

However, there was precious little to choose between a number of trainers in 2022, with the Middleham Moor handler Karl Burke (7-35; 20%, -£4.05) narrowly edging out his rivals in the keenly contested battle for top spot.

David O’Meara (6-28; 21%, +£1.00), Roger Fell (6-32; 19%, +£6.62), Charlie & Mark Johnston (6-37; 16%, -£4.52) and Tim Easterby (6-78; 8%, -£7.25) found themselves locked in a four-way tie for second.

Daniel Tudhope (7-36; 19%, -£2.00), who commonly sports the well-known grey Clipper Logistics silks, finished the 2022 season as leading rider at Pontefract.

Scotsman Tudhope was closely pursued by Hollie Doyle (6-16; 38%, +£15.07), Ben Curtis (6-25; 24%, +£0.44), Jason Hart (6-42; 14%, +£1.33) and Clifford Lee (5-25; 20%; -£2.55).

Doyle’s exceptional strike-rate and level-stakes profit owed much to the exploits of the admirable course-specialist Corinthia Knight.

“Pontefract is one of the biggest circuits in the country. There are various undulations but with a nice uphill finish, which sometimes features a cutaway section of rail off the final bend, you have the option to go wide or nip up the inner. Drawn in by the competitive racing on offer, Pontefract can attract large crowds (of spectators) with close finishes a regular feature."

“Pontefract is another unique track. Although a big galloping circuit, it tends to favour the front-runners, and that is often the best way to ride the track when you can get your own way in front. The draw is also important. It is usually better to be drawn towards the inner rail, although when conditions are juicier this isn’t so much of an issue as the runners usually end up coming middle to stands’ side.”

Paul Midgley’s Mr Wolf (8-36; 22%) is the undisputed all-time ‘King of Ponte’, although Round The Island (7-27; 26%) and Mr Orange (7-39; 18%) have threatened to match that achievement in more recent times.

Four horses – Poker Face (Simon & Ed Crisford), Global Spirit (Roger Fell), Wor Willie (Michael Dods) and Carrigillihy (Tim Easterby) – were undefeated (all 2-2) at Pontefract in 2022, but Archie Watson’s Corinthia Knight (3-5; 60%, +£5.87) led the way numerically. The Ontoawinner-owned gelding enjoyed success in various 6f handicaps (Class 3-5) between June to August, and is now an impressive 6-9 (67%) overall at the popular West Yorkshire venue.

The Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes was the highlight of Pontefract’s 2022 Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture.

The William Haggas-trained Bartzella was a particularly warm order, but the Golden Horn filly could only finish fifth of seven with Glenartney (Ed Walker) getting the better of a thrilling tussle with Goldie Hawk (Chris Wall). She later went onto finish an honourable third in the Group Two Darley Prix de Pomone at Deauville.

Kaizer (Ewan Whillans), a Kelso regular, edged out fellow dual-purpose campaigner Flint Hill in Round 4 of the Pontefract Stayers’ Championship, while Enfranchise enjoyed success for the Johnston’s in the Class 3 middle-distance handicap.

The other winners on the seven-race Pontefract card were Misty Blues (Tim Easterby), Visibility (Scott Dixon), Bullet Force (Karl Burke) and Ghathanfar (Tracy Waggott).