PONTEFRACT 13:20 1d6v2q

All 8 ran.

Time: 1m 16.01s Closing Sectional: (2f): 28.05s (90.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 102.7%

The bare margins don't fully reflect it but Meraas proved his opening mark to be every bit as wide of the mark as had looked the case beforehand, his lead eroded late on after he'd burned his rivals off long before the furlong marker, the 2 who'd pressed him for the lead early - both on his inner - finishing tailed off.

MERAAS not only backed up his improvement at Kempton but did so in a manner that means the winning margin vastly undersells his superiority, engaged in a battle for the early lead (parked wider than the other pair) yet still able to blow the race apart turning for home; disputed lead, went with zest, went on before halfway, quickened clear around 2f out, closed down only late on; open to further improvement, he's surely up to competing at listed/pattern level, though he ran fast at Kempton and had a hard race here so perhaps a short break wouldn't go amiss now.

TROUBADOR (IRE) who was very easy to back, got back on the up under his big weight returned to handicap company, even if he was vastly flattered by his proximity to the winner at the line; mid-field, headway out wide over 2f out, stayed on deep inside final 1f as winner tired.

HURCLE (IRE) making turf debut, clearly isn't on a bad mark at all on this evidence, shaping second best behind the lobbed-in winner having given chase to that one well before the one who pipped him for second; tracked pace, chased leader over 2f out, edged left well inside final 1f, kept on.

CORVAIR (IRE) blotted his copybook making turf debut; very slowly away, seemed slightly reluctant and hung right early well detached from the rest, merely plodded on past beaten horses; his half-brother Havana Star showed signs of temperament and he needs treating with a bit of caution all of a sudden after this.

ROMERO (IRE) who hardly has a solid look to his form, looks harshly handicapped and failed to make much impact; short of room soon after start, off pace, pushed along halfway, laboured headway 1f out, no further impression.

MAJESTIC SANDS (IRE) is handicapped on 2-y-o form from a year earlier and made little impact after 5 months off; mid-division, no room on inner over 2f out but made no impression once in the clear.

BORSDANE WOOD fared no better back sprinting in first-time cheekpieces; helped force pace 2f, lost place 2f out, folded.

MAKYON (IRE) who attracted some after 9 months off, went freely to post (checked at start) and didn't offer much on the day but is probably best not judged too harshly on this given he tried to match strides with his very well-treated stablemate; disputed lead 2f, weakened 2f out; next run should reveal more as to where we stand with him at present.