PONTEFRACT 15:10

All 12 ran.

Time: 1m 21.86s Closing Sectional: (2f): 29.6s (92.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 100.4%

A thorough test in the conditions, the front-runner overdoing things, and the distances got exaggerated in the closing stages, the winner coping much the best as he showed he's as good as ever.

PERFECT PASTURE was presumably all the fitter for his outing at Doncaster, bouncing back to his very best to take advantage of a drop in the weights; held up, headway over 2f out, switched home turn, led over 1f out, forged clear; future prospects depend much on the handicapper, conditions perhaps making him look a bit better than he was.

OCEAN SHERIDAN (IRE) was placed again and evidently continues in good heart, even if strictly speaking on the figures this isn't quite so good a run as at Doncaster; mid-field, effort over 2f out, kept on.

THE HOODED CLAW (IRE) back with his old yard having spent last season with Simon Crisford, shaped as if he's returned from 7 months off in decent enough heart; tracked pace, led early in straight, headed over 1f out, kept on; he went the wrong way following his return last year, so it remains to be seen which way he goes from this but at least has the options of 0-85s.

AVON BREEZE without the headgear this time, wasn't disgraced after 6 months off, but a rise in the weights for her win on her final start last year requires her to be better than ever to defy it; mid-field, pushed along over 2f out, short of room early in straight, carried head awkwardly, one paced.

REDVERS (IRE) looked regressive last year for Ed Vaughan and was below form after 7 months off starting out for new connections; held up, ridden over 2f out, one paced.

MUKHAYYAM looked rusty on first outing since leaving Sir Michael Stoute after 8 months off and ran below form; in rear, pushed along halfway, made no impression; his best efforts have come at 7f/1m and he'll probably be suited by a return to those trips.

BEARDWOOD gelded since last year, was well found in the market but was below form after 5 months off, albeit not really seen to best effect; slowly into stride, in rear, headway after halfway, short of room home turn, not quicken; he's got the size and scope to be a better horse this year than last.

RELATED went backwards from his reappearance, but he's better judged on that form for now, not seen to best effect given how this panned out; made running, headed early in straight, weakened, ridden too aggressively in conditions; comments made last time about what he's capable of in big-field handicaps still hold true.

BALLYMORE CASTLE (IRE) failed to build on his reappearance at Doncaster, conditions not really a sufficient excuse given some of his form, and it could simply be that he's a disappointing type; held up, pushed along over 2f out, made no impression.

RED PIKE (IRE) wasn't seen to best effect after 6 months off, but he'd ended last year out of form too so still has a bit to prove; awkward start, raced wide, mid-field, driven halfway, weakened over 2f out.

MY NAME IS RIO (IRE) went backwards from his reappearance, but it's easy enough to forgive this effort given he raced wide; chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened before home turn, left poorly placed.

DEAUVILLE PRINCE (FR) back in headgear (cheekpieces this time), again finished well held; raced very wide, mid-field, beaten long way out; he had little chance given how this panned out, but given how badly he also ran on his reappearance, he's not one to be making excuses for.