With over £5,000 to the winner, this could be a more competitive race than the norm. Of the form horses Mister Manannan and Gentle Beat both ran with credit on debut. Nicholls' Desert Style colt wasn't given a hard race against the easy victor Here Now And Why at Ripon. Showing a touch of inexperience he is likely to improve today and certainly sets a fair standard for the others to attain. Gentle Beat put up a fair performance in a stakes race at Thirsk against the now three-times winner Star Rover. This strapping gelding by Whipper will have his supporters.
It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see one or two debutantes run well even with inexperience being something of a negative against them. Duffield, Johnston & Smart do well at Pontefract. Kingdom Of Light has been given a stakes entry and cost £100,000. Howard Johnson doesn't have the best strike rate on debut (much better on their second start) but he is a very capable trainer and should be respected.
The only filly in the race, Parbold Hill, cost a decent sum and although Barron, again, doesn't have the best win rate on debut both of his two-year-olds to run this year have finished in the frame and one of these looks a decent sort.
This looks an intriguing race. Mister Manannan sets a fair mark as a form horse and his experience will be of much benefit here. He could be a tough nut to crack, however this may turn out to be a competitive race and for that reason it may not be a straightforward affair.
A watching race.
Race review: 'A very lively market with money for Kingdom Of Light and Parbold Hill. Mister Manannan made this look all very easy and in truth he either improved a good deal from his first run or the juveniles making their debuts failed to deliver. How far the winner charged clear in the final furlong you have to consider the rest of the field ran so so races although much credit should be given to Nicholls two-year-old. Once again experience proved the vital winning ingredient and few got into the race. Ghostwing showed good speed and faded, while Howard Johnson (Kingdom Of light) couldn't go the pace. Gentle Beat ran no race. This race was very straightforward after all.'
