Spoilt Foolaad bidding to complete back-to-back wins at Pontefract

Roy Bowring's stable star Foolaad sprang a surprise on his most recent start at Doncaster and connections are hoping the eight-year-old can back up that win by landing the £25,000 5f handicap (3.20) at Pontefract – the most valuable race of the day – for the second year in succession.

Bowring is based in Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire and has trained the Darley-bred Foolaad since he made his debut in May 2015, after he failed to race when in the care of Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

Bowring believes the secret to keeping Foolaad firing on all cylinders is the individual care he receives at his yard.

Bowring said: "He's been a good horse for us. We look after him, I haven't got many horses in training so he gets a lot of attention. He probably gets mollycoddled a bit."

Only 1lb higher than when he defeated the now 106-rated El Astronaute by a head 12 months ago, Bowring believes the ground will be the key factor to a horse who has suffered from injuries in the past.

"I hope it's not too firm. If there's a bit of cut in it, he'll be fine. My head lad walked the track at Doncaster and he said the ground had cut up a bit, so I think that's why he won there," added Bowring.

"He never seems to win by very far, I think he was in front by about six inches before the line at Doncaster and in second by about six inches after!"

Dane O'Neill will partner the chestnut for the first time, a rider Bowring considers among the best around.

Poyle Vinnie: the nine-year-old also bounced back to form with a win last timeCredit: Grossick Racing

Fellow veterans Pipers Note, Watchable and Poyle Vinnie are among the opposition, as well as the progressive Sandra's Secret and the Robert Cowell-trained Leo Minor.

Next stop Hexham: Skelton bandwagon rolls on

The Skelton brothers are working their way down the country after a double on both days of Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting saw trainer Dan hit 192 winners for the season.

The pair have 13 days remaining to claw back the eight winners to reach a double century for the season, a feat which has only previously been achieved by Martin Pipe.

Of the atmosphere in the yard, the trainer said: "We're all really excited. We had a good Cheltenham, a good Aintree and a good Ayr, and the horses are running really well."

Dan Skelton: is counting back from 200 winners for the seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Etamine Du Cochet, who runs in the 2m4f mares' novice hurdle (3.10), and last Thursday's Wetherby winner Solo Saxophone, who runs in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (3.40), both have solid chances of adding to the tally.

Skelton said: "Etamine Du Cochet is the second highest-rated in the race so she's got a chance, while I wasn't expecting what happened with Solo Saxophone at Wetherby. He's always been a bit inconsistent throughout his life and this is a totally different track so we're hoping he can string two good runs together."

Telecaster hoping to hit the right note at Windsor

The Hughie Morrison-trained Telecaster caught the eye on his racecourse debut when chasing home the highly touted Bangkok at Doncaster, and the three-year-old will be aiming to make it second time lucky in the 1m2f novice stakes (4.00) at Windsor.

Out of Shirocco Star, who was second in the Oaks and Irish Oaks for Morrison, Telecaster was green when sent off 20-1 on Town Moor and should have improved for the experience.

The New Approach colt boasts a Dante entry and will need to improve if he is to take up that engagement.

The race has the potential to be a hot novice, with John Gosden fielding Suakin, while previous winners Ginistrelli and Ragnar begin their campaigns.

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