Pontefract gallop is signal to rediscover wow factor

Trainer John Quinn scrapped plans to take him to Wetherby a week ago and has decided to put him through his paces at the West Yorkshire track.

Last year’s Coventry Stakes and Prix Morny winner now appears unlikely to take in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 18 and is set instead to go straight for the first colts’ Classic at Newmarket on May 2.

“I’m very pleased with him and I’m going to take him to Pontefract on Tuesday, I’m very grateful to Mr (Norman) Gundill and his team there for allowing us,” said Malton-based Quinn.

“While he will be entered in the trials I would prefer to take him straight to the Guineas. He’s a very exuberant horse.

“I wanted to run him in the Greenham, but the Guineas is only two weeks later and I don’t think two weeks is enough as he puts everything in.

“He’s well on his way and is having a day out at Pontefract. He’s a very good colt and I feel he will stay a mile.”

Thirteen-year-old sprint star Borderlescott was a gallant second in the Musselburgh sprint named after the horse.

On his seasonal reappearance, and now trained by Rebecca Bastiman at Wetherby following the retirement of her father Robin, the dual Nunthorpe winner was beaten just over a length by Bryan Smart’s former Prix de l’Abbaye winner Tangerine Trees, another former Yorkshire horse of the year.

Record-breaking Grade One winner Hurricane Fly is among a stellar entry of 14 for the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle at the Liverpool track on Thursday.

The legendary 22-times scorer at the top level, including two Champion Hurdles, would be making his first appearance on Merseyside at the age of 11.

Meanwhile, Nick Scholfield is poisted to ride Jim Culloty’s well-regarded Spring Heeled in the Crabbie’s Grand National.