Nine horses were declared to face the starter and there was no shortage of excitement as we were treated to an exciting battle between the two horses at the top of the handicap.

Sean Kirrane fresh from a successful winter riding in Dubai set the early fractions on Challet who certainly knows his way around this North Yorkshire venue. The pair looked a sitting target for the Ryan Sexton partnered Empirestateofmind as the blinkered favourite arrived upsides travelling ever so well, but the John Quinn trained 4yr old didn’t put the race to bed leaving the pair to duel out the finish.

Just three quarters of a length separated the duo at the line with Sexton coming out on top completing a double on the afternoon.

Having secured two points in the opening round at Doncaster, this win fired the Adrian Keatley based apprentice to an early lead in the series also moving him to 13 winners in total.

Pontefract plays host to round three later this month on Wednesday 27th April.