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David Easterby's homework paid dividends today as a pre-race walk of the track at Pontefract found a strip of quicker ground. Following a new set of jockeys' instructions Unplugged and So Grateful recorded a double in the first two races by crossing to the faster stands side of the track where the ground was riding slightly better. |
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Unplugged, ridden by top amateur rider Serena Brotherton, took the opening '21st Wilfred Underwood Memorial Handicap' over ten furlongs with a smart run along the near rail. Serena gave the seven-year-old a great ride by coming across to the near side of the track to comfortably beat Dandy's Angel by two lengths. The ride today mirrored Bavardages's win at Pontefract last year where Serena brought the horse across to the near rail to record a comfortable five length win over the same ten furlong trip. Serena Brotherton has now ridden 36 winners for the stable, her first victory coming back in 1999 when Flower O'Cannie won the Queen Mother's Cup at York. Now retired from her work as a solictor she rides out at the yard most mornings and regularly completes six or seven lots. |
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Unplugged has an excellent record at Pontefract with two wins from three races and he loves the stiff uphill finish. His only defeat saw him go down by a nose earlier this year after he'd met trouble in running and he's unlucky not to be 100% at Pontefract Park. |
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The pride and joy of Simon Windle's Pellon Racing has rewarded his owners well after the patience they have showed. |
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Last year Unplugged won at Pontefract after an absence from the track of almost three years. |
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He's had all sorts of problems and at home his training consists of three short runs up the hill each day and it's paid dividends as he is the form of his life right now. He's run three times in 2023 and his form reads 211 and hopefully he hasn't finished winning yet. |
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Half an hour later So Grateful recorded his first turf win by taking the 'Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap'. He went straight to the rail after leaving the stalls and stayed there all the way round. The faster ground made up for the extra distance as the son of Swiss Spirit clocked up his fourth career win. |
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So Grateful is from a family who have all improved with age, as half-brothers Bowson Fred and Towbee were better horses in their second and third seasons. He was recording a fourth win for the Mick & David Easterby Racing Club, which is in it's second season. |
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We told Club members of today's plan before the race and it all came together perfectly. |
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Cantalupo Bella gave her owners plenty to be optimistic about in the mile and a half handicap. She followed the same tactics and switched to near side after two furlongs and was in the lead half a mile out. Staying on in the last half furlong she finished third and she might step up further next time. |
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