Off Chance, one of the few horses in Britain who is ‘ponied’ to the start when she races, can gain a nostalgic second successive win in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract tomorrow.

In winning this Listed race 12 months ago, Off Chance made it a memorable occasion for trainer Tim Easterby. The race is named in honour of Pipalong, his top-notch performer of yesteryear.

Tomorrow, an encore could be on the cards for Off Chance, who looks as though she retains all her considerable ability, judged on her close up fifth to St Moritz in Listed company at York in May.

She is a highly-strung mare who requires careful handling and Easterby will send one of his ‘bombproof’ horses as a mate for Off Chance, who will be led down at a trot and a hack by the rider of the accompanying horse.

It has worked a treat in the past and, hopefully, it will do so again.

Duran Fentiman takes the mount as usual – and he has an exciting afternoon in prospect.

The Malton jockey also teams up with Irish Boy in the Jeff And Margaret Smith Memorial Handicap.

Thirsk trainer Noel Wilson has already placed this sprinter to win three times this season, most recently at Musselburgh. A further 4lb rise makes things a little more difficult, but Irish Boy is a progressive type and he is fancied to win again.

Norton apprentice Paul Pickard enjoyed a day to remember when winning the prestigious Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Tominator, trained by Reg Hollinshead.

Pickard teams up with another of Hollinshead’s horses, Flowing Cape, in the King Richard III Handicap and this well drawn gelding is napped to oblige.

Flowing Cape was a winner over this distance of six furlongs at Catterick two outings ago before failing to back up that form when trying seven furlongs at Doncaster on his latest start.

He can be forgiven that defeat and is expected to bounce back at the shorter trip.

The Dianne Nursery represents the first handicap of the season for juveniles and, tightly-knit though this race looks, it may be worth taking a chance on Pendle Lady, a winner over this course and distance last time and who looks fairly weighted.

At Ripon this evening, it may pay to follow the fortunes of Paul Hanagan, who heads into the second half of the turf campaign with a healthy lead over his rivals in the race for the jockeys’ title, which he won so memorably last year.

The Malton ace has a choice book of mounts at Ripon and is fancied to score on Janet’s Pearl (6.50), She’s Got The Luck (7.50), El Viento (8.20) and Petsas Pleasure (8.50).

The nap vote is awarded to She’s Got The Luck, who has shaped well in her two outings this season and who looks fairly weighted now switched to handicap company.

Racing selections

Ripon (today)

6.50 Janet’s Pearl, 7.20 Alice Rose, 7.50 She’s Got The Luck (NAP), 8.20 El Viento, 8.50 Petsas Pleasure, 9.20 Shalloon.

Today’s other meetings

Brighton, Newton Abbot and Windsor.

Pontefract (tomorrow)

2.30 Pendle Lady, 3.00 King Kurt, 3.30 Irish Boy, 4.00 Off Chance, 4.30 Flowing Cape (NAP), 5.00 Thubiaan, 5.30 Carrowbeg.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Southwell, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.