PAT BRILLY, who led in winner Johannes trained by boss Richard Fahey at Doncaster on Saturday evening, will be guest of honour at Pontefract on Monday.

The 62-year-old Irishman has a race named in his honour under Racing Welfare’s admirable ‘Lifetime In Racing’ series, which acknowledges the dedication and hard work done by the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

Brilly, who has been an integral part of the Fahey stable for 12 years, has been in Malton for much of his racing life and also enjoyed a successful association with the late Jimmy FitzGerald.

One of his earliest racing memories is also one of his most special. As a 14-year-old schoolboy growing up in County Kildare, he was invited down by a friend of one of his brothers to Bryanstown Stud, owned by Anne Duchess of Westminster.

It was during that visit he was legged up on the back and led around the yard aboard the greatest steeplechaser that ever lived, the mighty Arkle.

There are no horses talked about in the same breath as Arkle on show at Pontefract today, but the winner of the Pat Brilly – A Lifetime In Racing Fillies’ Handicap may well be Indian Giver, whose runner-up effort to Copperwood at Carlisle recently represents sound form.

Brilly’s boss, Fahey has a few chances of getting on the scoresheet, not least with Euxton Hall in the featured Spindrifter Stakes.

A good winner at Haydock on his debut before finishing fourth in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, where he looked ill at ease on the undulating course, the juvenile faces three previous winners in this six-furlong dash and is fancied to have the edge over Tim Easterby’s promising Royal Rascal. Euxton Hall will be partnered by Tony Hamilton.

Flashman is another potential Fahey winner in the Wayne Conway Memorial Handicap. The mount of Lee Topliss, he came good at Redcar last time and looks capable of steady progression.

Shaloo Diamond ran out a decisive winner at Ripon recently and it would come as no surprise to see Richard Whitaker’s charge go in again in the first division of the Tim Easterby Racing Partnerships Ladies’ Handicap. Alyson Deniel, who gave the seven-year-old such a confident ride at Ripon, is in the saddle again.

Minalisa promises to be hard to beat in the Wilfred Underwood And Philip Underwood Memorial Classified Stakes.

Trained at Newmarket by Rae Guest, the three-year-old made a handsome debut at Warwick 11 days ago, winning by three lengths.

She should be able to hold her own in this stronger company and is napped to follow up.

At Hamilton on Tuesday, Westow trainer Paul Midgley can continue his useful winning run with Besty in the Follow @HamiltonParkRC On Twitter Handicap.

The five-year-old has run three sound races in defeat this season and is overdue a winning turn.

King Of Paradise (3.30), who overcame a slipping saddle to win on this course three weeks ago, can follow up, while Ann Duffield’s Sovereign Street (5.30) is another to note.

Tom O'Ryan's selections

Pontefract (today) 2.30 Shaloo Diamond, 3.00 Moody Tunes, 3.30 Indian Giver, 4.00 Euxton Hall, 4.30 I’m So Glad, 5.00 Flashman, 5.30 Minalisa (NAP), 6.00 Talent Scout.

Today’s other meetings: Ffos Las, Windsor and Wolverhampton.

Hamilton (tomorrow) 2.30 Luck, 3.00 Frequency, 3.30 King Of Paradise, 4.00 Joshua The First, 4.30 Za’lan, 5.00 Besty, 5.30 Sovereign Street.

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