Knight slays Pomfret rivals

Highland Knight: Won the feature at Pontefract

Highland Knight won the feature Sky Bet Supporting The Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract on Sunday.

The five year old was having his second consecutive start at Listed level having finished third behind Friday's winner Thistle Bird at Windsor last time.

David Probert settled the gelding in second behind the generous tempo being set by Set The Trend and was well placed throughout.

The field did close up and there were five still in with a chance inside the distance.

Bannock was challenging in the centre but drifted off a true line with Rugged Cross and Prince Of Johanne others to have made ground from off the pace.

As the leader's petrol ran out in the final furlong, Probert was able to launch his challenge up the inside and, with the rail to help, it was the Andrew Balding-trained runner who ran on the strongest in the mile contest to score by a length and a half from the rapidly-closing Rugged Cross.

"He's a true legend," said Probert.

"Ideally he likes own way in front but Set The Trend took over the race and thought I'd sit on his quarters.

"When the split appeared I knew he'd pick up. He's very willing and consistent. He gives it 110%."

Probert, the former joint champion apprentice with William Buick, went on: "Everything's going very well at the moment and Andrew is giving me lots of good rides. His horses are running very well, so that helps."