Ishetoo, who gave notice he was returning to top form in last month’s Gosforth Park Cup, can fulfill that promise in Pontefract’s feature race tomorrow night.

The £15,000 Simply Red Handicap is the target for the six-year-old, who won a major handicap at York last summer, providing apprentice Jamie Kyne with the biggest success of his all-too-short career. The teenage Kyne died in the autumn in the much-publicised Norton flats fire.

Ian Brennan, who escaped with his life from the burning building on that ill-fated night last September, takes the mount on Ishetoo tomorrow. Now trained by Ollie Pears, having been with Allan Dickman last season, Ishetoo finished fourth on his latest outing in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle.

That was a step in the right direction and, although he is opposed by some in-form rivals tomorrow, including Atlantic Beach and Haajes, Ishetoo is fancied to resume winning ways.

Nap selection Bollin Greta deserves attention in the totepool Fillies’ Handicap.

Tim Easterby’s five-year-old finished an encouraging second at Ripon last time out and looks to be running into form. A previous winner over this course and distance, Bollin Greta is fancied to find opportunity knocking.

Newmarket trainer Paul D’Arcy saddled Nurai to win on this track nearly three weeks ago and a follow-up could well be on the cards in the Colstrope Cup Handicap.

In the opening Countrywide Freight Maiden Auction Stakes, Easy Ticket will be a popular choice on the strength of his fine second-placed effort to the highly-rated Wooton Bassett at Ayr last month. But he may have work on his hands to beat El Viento, a stable-mate of Wooton Bassett, trained by Richard Fahey.

Whatever Fahey’s fate at the Yorkshire course, the Malton handler should be among the winners at Hamilton’s major fixture.

The featured £33,000 John Smith’s Scottish Stewards’ Cup is a race Fahey has won three times in recent years with Knot In Wood (twice) and Quest For Success 12 months ago. This time he is represented by Irish Heartbeat, winner of the Spring Mile at Doncaster in March.

The switch back to six furlongs here should not be a problem for the five-year-old, a winner of a premier handicap in Ireland last season over five furlongs, provided the ground is not too fast. With rain around, he has every chance of getting suitable conditions. Hawkeyethenoo ranks as one of several dangers.

Sapphire Girl (6.45), Mister Hardy (7.15), Lady Luachmhar (8.50) and Sheiling (8.50) provide Fahey with a host of winning chances. Furthermore, all his runners will be partnered by Paul Hanagan, the season’s leading jockey, who is enjoying a remarkable run at the moment.


Racing selections

Pontefract (tomorrow)
6.35 El Viento, 7.05 Bollin Greta (NAP), 7.35 Ishetoo, 8.10 Nurai, 8.40 Avitus, 9.10 The Hermitage.

Hamilton (tomorrow)
6.10 Rain Stops Play, 6.45 Sapphire Girl, 7.15 Mister Hardy, 7.45 Irish Heartbeat, 8.20 Lady Luachmhar, 8.50 Sheiling, 9.20 Sea Land.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Haydock, Newbury, Newmarket, Nottingham.

Today’s meetings:
Bath, Cartmel, Doncaster, Epsom, Hamilton, Leicester.