OLLIE Pears can continue his purple patch at Pontefract tomorrow.

The North Yorkshire jockey has ridden four winners this week and can add to his rising score aboard Kagoshima in the £10,000 Tote Pontefract Cup.

Trained near Barnsley by John Richard Norton, Kagoshima won over this course three weeks ago, gaining a convincing victory which upped his handicap rating by 10lb.

That said, the six-year-old is improving at such a rapid rate of knots that he looks capable of defying the handicapper tomorrow.

Running here after his trainer sidestepped a possible tilt at the Ascot Stakes in mid-week, Kagoshima is napped to give Pears his fifth winner in eight days.

Tim Easterby, who had the honour, with his wife Sarah, of travelling in the Royal procession at Ascot yesterday, can win the De Lacy Classified Stakes with Only One Legend.

His form figures this season fail to include a victory, but Only One Legend remains a capable sprinter at this level and Robert Winston has the task of bringing him home in front.

Amanda Perratt has few runners at Pontefract and her decision to send Stay Behind all the way from deepest Sussex should not be overlooked.

Recent winner Stay Behind, a progressive stayer, lines-up for the St John's Priory Classified Stakes with Richard Quinn in the saddle.

John Dunlop, another Sussex raider, also has strong claims of a winner.

Dunlop saddles Hufflepuff in the EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes. Quinn also takes the mount on this promising juvenile, a good second to Ristra at Lingfield on her debut.

Caution, a winner at Redcar two outings ago, was far from disgraced at Thirsk last week and is worth another chance in the Porters Lodge Fillies Handicap.

At Lingfield, American Cousin can make his long journey from David Nicholls' Thisk stable in the Cranston Communication Handi-cap. Smart apprentice Tony Hamilton has the mount.

Tomorrow's tips

PONTEFRACT

2.15 Hufflepuff, 2.45 Just Murphy, 3.15 Kagoshima (Nap), 3.45 Only One Legend, 4.15 Stay Behind, 4.45 Missouri, 5.15 Caution

LINGFIELD

1.55 Fortune's Fool, 2.25 Seamstress, 2.55 Glorious Quest, 3.25 American Cousin, 3.55 Willoughby's Boy, 4.25 Berzoud, 4.55 Sifat, 5.25 Western Flame

PERTH

2.35 Ambushed, 3.05 Miss Foley, 3.35 Tyrolean Dream, 4.05 Mr Frangipani, 4.35 The Alleycat, 5.05 Shinerolla, 5.35 Al Mabrook

Updated: 11:25 Saturday, June 23, 2001