The final race-day of the season at Pontefract brings an excellent field for the feature Listed Silver Tankard Stakes for 2-y-o's over a mile. Lady Heidi won the corresponding fixture last term for local trainer Phil Kirby and Roger Varian's Natural Charm could bring more success to the fairer sex and is one of two fillies' running in this year's renewal.
Richard Hannon's hat-trick seeking Power Play is respected after impressive wins at Ascot and Newbury however My Reward (3.40) is given the nod to frank his Kempton form with Marco Botti's Sharp Sailor. The Charlie Hills-trained colt got up late to collar his adversary by a nose in a conditions race earlier this month when given a peach from James Doyle and the Rail Link colt is taken to maintain his unbeaten record with George Baker replacing Doyle in the plate.
Jockey Adam Kirby has a 30% strike-rate when riding for Luca Cumani over the past 12 months and the pair can enjoy further success with Galuppi (4.10) in the maiden over the extended mile and a half. The Galileo colt was beaten a neck on his seasonal beau in a ten furlong maiden at the track and has been far from disgraced in subsequent starts at Haydock and Kempton. The selection should appreciate the softer ground, sets a fair standard and can take advantage of the plumb draw in stall one.
Jim Crowley enjoyed an excellent weekend at both Newmarket and Ascot with three winners over ‘Champions Weekend' including Madame Chiang in the G1 Fillies and Mares Stakes and is Windsor-bound this afternoon for the track's penultimate card of the season. The newly-appointed retained jockey to Fitri Hay is riding at the top of his game and looks set to enjoy further success with Ed Walker's Dark Kingdom (3.50) in the nursery over a mile. The Lord Shanakill colt made a winning debut last month at Chepstow when staying on strongly over seven furlongs to lead close home and can get the better of Marco Botti's Yeenann, maintaining his unbeaten in the process.
Richard Hannon looks set to be crowned Champion Trainer in his first season since taking over from his father Richard Hannon Senior and Here for Good (3.50) can give the trainer yet another winner at his beloved Windsor in the mile handicap. The Aqlaam colt hasn't been seen since finished well-beaten in an all-weather maiden in January however makes his debut handicapping from an attractive mark of 67 with exciting apprentice Cam Hardie taking off a further 3lb.
There's jump racing from Plumpton with the feature handicap chase over two and a half miles attracting the smart pair of Azure Fly and Seventh Sky likely with both arriving in excellent heart. Charlie Mann's Seventh Sky makes his first start for nearly four months after chasing home Buck Mulligan at Stratford and is respected however Azure Fly (4.00) gets the nod for the in-form team of Charlie Longsdon and Noel Fehily The 6-y-o makes his debut handicap chasing after an accomplished campaign last term over hurdles and shares a similar profile to last year's winner Uxizandre.
Cannon Fodder won last year's renewal of the three-mile handicap hurdle but attempts to defend his crown from a 21lb higher mark and David Pipe's unexposed Virtuel D'Oudon (4.30) should prove much better than an 127-rated handicapper. The 5-y-o made a successful start under rules in a bumper at the track back in February and has been progressive since sent hurdling thereafter; last seen winning a maiden hurdle in the spring at Ffos Las. The son of Network should be helped by the application of cheek-pieces for the first time and can continue the Pipe stable's excellent start to the new campaign.
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