TWITTER: @ponteraces

SKY BET SUNDAY SERIES DATE: Sunday 19th June 2022

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Historical documents record racing taking place in the Pontefract area as early as 1648.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 (‘dope’) 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.

The Pontefract trainers’ title was fiercely contested in 2021 with David O’Meara (7-39; 18%), Kevin Ryan (7-39; 18%), Mark Johnston (7-40; 18%),__ Tim Easterby__ (7-76; 9%) all numerically sharing the honours.

Pontefract is a racecourse that has always proved kind to Helmsley-based O’Meara. He became the second-fastest UK trainer - after Richard Hannon - to saddle 1,000 Flat winners when Sudona struck in a 1m2f handicap in July 2020.

Richard Fahey (pictured) (32-229; 14%; +£9.65) is the top trainer at Pontefract over the last five years but is only a handful of winners ahead of Mark Johnston (26-159; 16%) and Tim Easterby (25-232; 11%).

“I feel that if you’re stuck out wide it is difficult around Pontefract, so you need a nice draw and be able to race down on the paint (inside rail). More than anything else, I would always want to have a good draw at Pontefract. Even on very soft ground, it never made much sense to me as a jockey to be covering seven furlongs – when electing to come across to the stands’ rail - in a six-furlong race.”

Kevin Stott (11-27; 41%; +£17.50) rode more turf winners at Pontefract in 2021 than anywhere else. Two of those wins came aboard Paul Midgley’s sprint handicapper Ventura Express, and another aboard Kevin Ryan’s Aleezdancer (3-3 for the season overall under Stott; other wins at Beverley and Carlisle). Jason Hart (7-24; 29%; +£15.50) and Daniel Tudhope (7-35; 20%) also enjoyed a successful year at Pontefract.

Ben Curtis (30-121; 25%), who has only recently returned from a debilitating long-term injury, ranks as top Pontefract jockey over the last five years. Daniel Tudhope (28-155; 18%) and three-time British Flat Champion Jockey Silvestre De Sousa (pictured) (21-77; 27%) are in close pursuit.

“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.”

The Middleham handler Micky Hammond sends a battalion of runners to Pontefract each year, and his progressive handicapper Dragons Will Rise was unbeaten in two starts at the track in 2021. Others with compelling 2021 Pontefract statistics include Alpha Cru (2-3; David O’Meara), Corinthia Knight (2-3; Archie Watson), Flint Hill (2-4; Ruth Jefferson), and Ventura Express (2-5; Paul Midgley).

Mr Wolf is a name forever entwined with Pontefract Park. For the late David Barker, and then for John Quinn, the Wolfhound gelding notched a combined total of eight career wins (from 36 starts; 22%) at the track. Others who appreciate the West Yorkshire air include Mr Orange (7-36; 19%), Highly Sprung (6-17; 35%), and Round The Island (6-22; 27%).