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A review of the racing at Pontefract: Almost Gemini wins Stayers Challenge

Jockey James Sullivan
Image: James Sullivan, rider of Almost Gemini

News of the action from the card at Pontefract where Almost Gemini took round one of the popular Stayers Championship.

Almost Gemini showed he had boundless stamina by grinding out a first success on the Flat since June 2013 in the Jamaican Flight Handicap on heavy ground at Pontefract.

Used to competing in three-mile hurdles, this two-and-a-quarter-mile test proved no problem as he took round one of the Pontefract Stayers Championship.

The 7-2 shot, trained by Ken Slack, travelled well in behind as he swept into the lead a furlong out to beat Tuscan Gold by a length and three-quarters under a confident James Sullivan.

"He took to it extremely well. I was frightened he might be wondering where the next hurdle was," said Slack's mum and assistant, Evelyn.

"We might try to keep him on the Flat a little bit now, but eventually he may go chasing."

Stamp Hill (7-2 favourite) showed great tenacity to hold off Candelisa in the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Handicap.

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Richard Fahey's three-year-old sprinter overcame the testing conditions to get the verdict by a head under Tony Hamilton.

"Any horse that wins today is a trier," Fahey told Racing UK.

"I said to the owner I just wanted to get him up a few pounds which would give us the option of better races. We'll sit down a make a plan from there.

"He's pretty relaxed in his races and he showed a bit of guts, as well."

Master Of Finance (11-4) repeated last year's victory as he again ran his rivals ragged in the Watch Racing UK On 3 Devices Handicap.

Fit from a recent run at Kempton, Mark Johnston's five-year-old led from the outset under Silvestre de Sousa and kept on stoutly in the tiring straight to beat Invictus by a length and a half.

Johnston's assistant Jock Bennett told Racing UK: "He is very tough. Silvestre said to me that he didn't like the ground, but he seemed to go through it.

"He has handled soft ground before but not as soft as that. It wasn't ideal, probably better ground would have suited.

"He might follow the same route as last year and go to Chester and York."

Du Moto (7-2) gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute his first winner of 2016 from his first runner when getting up close home to claim the Breeders Backing Racing 'High- Rise' EBF Maiden Stakes under Ted Durcan.

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