Holiday Cocktail returns to his favourite Pontefract course tomorrow with excellent claims of notching his fourth win at the West Yorkshire track.

Trained at Norton by John Quinn, who saddled a welcome double on the course ten days ago, Holiday Cocktail failed by only half a length that day to make it three winners for the North Yorkshire stable.

That performance, in pushing Northside Prince all the way to the line, strongly suggested Holiday Cocktail was on his way back to form.

The Pontefract Handicap for Gentleman Amateur Riders is the target tomorrow for Holiday Cocktail, who will have Simon Walker, the most experienced and successful pilot in the line-up, aboard.

Walker’s expertise is expected to swing the balance in favour of nap selection Holiday Cocktail as the gelding bids to enjoy another moment of Pontefract glory.

The £15,000 Big Fellas & Silks Nightclub Pontefract Handicap is the highlight on the card and Spirit Is Needed, one of Mark Johnston’s three intended runners in the field, makes plenty of appeal.

The four-year-old bounced back from a disappointing sequence of reverses to win in game style at Newmarket recently. Now that he’s got his head in front once more, he is worth following. Paul Mulrennan has the mount.

The Chaplins Club Handicap, named after the popular North Yorkshire sprinter, a prolific winner of yesteryear, has attracted a competitive line up, but King Of Swords has every chance of repeating his win of 12 months ago.

Nigel Tinkler’s sprinter squandered his chances at Beverley on his latest start by hanging to his left, but he still finished a close-up fifth to Frognal.

Previously a half-length second here to course specialist Mr Wolf, King Of Swords should make a bold assault to gain back-to-back successes in this five furlong dash.

Lamasaas makes plenty of appeal in the Hatfields Jaguar Maiden Stakes.

Barry Hills’ colt started favourite on his debut at Ffos Las, but his supporters left their money behind after Lamasaas missed the break, ran green and could finish only sixth.

He should be a lot wiser this time around and losses can be recovered.

At Newcastle, Dandy Nicholls, fresh from a notable win in Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood with Evens And Odds, can complete a hat-trick of wins with bargain-buy Rasselas in the Register @sportpool.co.uk Handicap.

Bought for only 7,000 guineas out of Barry Hills’ yard at Newmarket last month, Rasselas has won at Ayr and Redcar on his only two starts for Nicholls.

The promising Nicola’s Dream (2-20), trained by Richard Fahey for York owner Phil Smith, and Bryan Smart’s Malgoof (2-50), are also worth noting at Gosforth Park.


Racing Selctions

Pontefract
2.10 Holiday Cocktail (NAP), 2.40 Lamasaas, 3.10 Flag Of Glory, 3.40 Spirit Is Needed, 4.10 King Of Swords, 4.40 Exit Smiling, 5.10 Bonheurs Art.

Newcastle
2.20 Nicola’s Dream, 2.50 Malgoof, 3.20 Arch Walker, 3.50 Rasselas, 4.20 Mufti, 4.50 Ursus, 5.20 Bell’s Ocean.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Brighton, Kempton and Yarmouth.

Today’s meetings: Catterick, Chepstow, Ffos Las and Southwell.