Embesto to enjoy ease in grade at Pontefract

Embesto will hope the drop down to Listed territory can galvanise a return to the winner's enclosure in the Sky Bet Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract on Sunday.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old has had three starts at Group level in 2024, where he has not been disgraced following a productive campaign last year which yielded three victories in his first four starts.

After fifth-place finishes in the Earl of Sefton Stakes and Diomed Stakes at Newmarket and Epsom respectively, the son of Roaring Lion was only 0.75-lengths behind Quddwah when third earlier this month in the Group Two Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot.

The mile seems to be Embesto's ideal trip and faster ground should suit in his bid to secure a fourth career win.

River Seine is aiming to get her neck in front for the first time on her fourth appearance in the British EBF Stallion Studs Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Karl Burke's charge has had two near-misses, including most recently at York, where she led for most of the 1000m race before getting headed by Havana Gila inside the final stages.

Burke will hope the two-year-old daughter of Soldier's Call can learn from that experience in her bid to finally shake off her maiden tag.

Veteran performer Jewel Maker is targeting back-to-back successes at Pontefract inside nine days.

Tim Easterby's charge won over course and distance for his ninth career victory in what was a staggering 74th start under rules.

Despite a climb of 4lb, the nine-year-old has won twice off his current mark of 62 within the last 12 months, so should be challenging once again in the Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap.

In Sunday's only other card at Uttoxeter, Hang In There can come out on top in the Pauraic Sweeney Memorial Handicap Chase.

Emma Lavelle's 10-year-old has to defy top weight, some 17lb more than his closest rival, but that should not stop her charge from claiming his second straight triumph.

Hang In There had a cracking June, finishing a neck behind Statuario at Perth before claiming the Summer Cup Handicap Chase over this same 5200m track under the hands of 3lb claimer Joe Anderson.

Secret Trix and Sean Bowen look to combine once again to land the Gents Raceday Friday 18th October Handicap Hurdle.

The Olly Murphy-trained bay won over course and distance earlier this month with the current leader of the jump jockeys' championship aboard and it is hard to look past the pairing here. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

PONTEFRACT: 15.12 River Seine, 15.42 Jewel Maker, 16.12 EMBESTO (NAP), 16.42 Rosenzoo, 17.12 Retracement, 17.42 Gis A Sub, 18.12 Flavius Titus.

UTTOXETER: 14.50 Play Pretend, 15.25 Get Up Mush, 15.55 Hang In There, 16.25 Secret Trix, 16.55 Release The Kraken, 17.25 Gone In Sixty, 17.55 Theirshegoes, 18.25 Pillar Of Steel.