PONTEFRACT 15:40

All 8 ran.

Time: 1m 52.58s

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 102.4%

Although a high standard wasn't set for a listed event at this stage of the season a few of these did arrive on the up and had useful efforts to their name, Prince Gagarin one of them, and he improved again to win quite readily; Natural Order didn't set too strong a pace but ground conditions ensured there was an emphasis on stamina, anyway, and it looks a solid result.

PRINCE GAGARIN (IRE) has been progressive except for when seeming amiss in the Acomb, his second at Newmarket last time better than it initially looked (winner has followed up since), and this was an impressive win up in grade, value for a bit more than the winning margin, relishing the softer ground than he'd been on previously, as indeed a few others from his family have; mid-division, travelled well, picked way through rivals early in straight, produced to lead entering final 1f and forged clear, well on top at the finish; bred to stay middle distances and will do so looking at how he saw this out, and as a strong, good-looker, may have even more to offer as a 3-y-o.

TEOFILO'S PRINCESS (IRE) was aimed highly after just one run in a maiden but that had been a promising effort and she progressed as expected to be placed again in this higher grade; tracked pace, ridden when short of room over 1f out, stayed on, no match for winner; she'll probably stay further than 1m and is still unexposed.

MY REWARD failed to improve any further but ran well upped in grade and under more testing conditions returned to turf, backing up his previous effort; mid-division, chased leaders entering straight, kept on.

CARRY ON DERYCK wasn't disgraced, having no problem with the 1f longer trip, but has been put in his place in this grade on all 3 starts since winning debut and has probably reached his limit for now; dropped out, headway over 1f out, kept on gradually; his pedigree is rather mixed but he gives the impression that he'll stay further than 1m, certainly next year.

SHARP SAILOR (USA) was possibly unsuited by the testing conditions back on turf, threatening more for a long way but not finding much; prominent, travelled better than most, edged ahead over 1f out, headed entering final 1f, faltered and looked to finish tired; gradually progressive up to this and is worth another chance.

POWER PLAY (IRE) won a nursery last time that hasn't worked out and was below form/soundly beaten in this higher grade, admittedly on even more testing ground than he'd faced previously; chased leaders, took strong hold, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final 1f.

NATURAL ORDER (USA) failed to stay this 1f longer trip on heavy ground; made running, headed early in straight, weakened final 1f, finished tired and needs emphasis less on stamina; likely to prove best at short of 1m, certainly when conditions are like this.

NATURAL CHARM (IRE) was up in grade but just seemed unable to handle conditions more than anything, having won a nursery on firm last time; raced off the pace, never travelling well, made no impression.