PONTEFRACT 20:10

Non Runners: MANJAAM (IRE), BAYDAR. Race Distance Adjustment: +8 yds

Time: 2m 37.63s Closing Sectional: (2f): 27.1s (96.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 110%, Betfair SP 98.3%

Few takers for a good prize, the size and shape of the field magnifying the tactical element, My Reward dictating, and it goes almost without saying that the form won't really stand up against other class 2 handicaps, the second reappearing from a full year off.

MY REWARD was a world away from the Chester Cup, which was his only blob for a long time, this small field allowing him to do what he does best, controlling things and finding more than enough, defying the highest mark he's ever had, not that it necessarily took a career-best performance under these favourable circumstances.

FINAL had his 2017 campaign cut short, something presumably pretty serious to be sidelined for 12 months, but it's safe to say from this that all his ability is intact, for all the shortcomings of the race, a positive return by him bar the slow start (not for the first time), held up last and going second in the final ½f, nothing he could realistically do against the dictating winner; he's equally at home over 1¼m.

CONTANGO (IRE) shadowed My Reward, aware of the perils of positioning in a small field, but he lacked a change of gear when it came to it, probably more a case of the race dulling his power slightly than much of a dip by him; a bigger field and stronger gallop may yet see him regain last season's thread.

BANKSEA kept to 12f, not that it was any issue, his heart not really in it since returning from Dubai, beaten here as soon as the pace increased.