Pontefract brace for Luca Cumani

A review of Sunday's action from Pontefract where Luca Cumani landed a double including the feature Listed race.

Luca Cumani claimed his second successive victory in the totepool Pontefract Castle Stakes as exciting filly Loving Things made a successful debut for the yard.

The daughter of Pivotal looked another smart product of Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud when making a winning introduction at Salisbury in May of last year, but she was narrowly beaten at Haydock next time and disappointed on her final start of the campaign at Newmarket.

Having since left John Gosden and moved across Newmarket, Loving Things was a 9/1 shot on her belated return, but looks intent on making up for lost time judged on this authoritative success in the hands of Martin Lane, 12 months on from the success of Connecticut.

Cooper said: "She's a lovely filly and Luca has done a tremendous job with her.

"He's taken his time and he's fantastic with these older horses. She looked very poor last year, she never looked well, but now she's absolutely blooming.

"Luca persuaded me to come here and he made the right call. She's got a huge heart and a wonderful temperament.

"It's very important to enjoy today and not worry about tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow will take care of itself."

The victory completed a double for Cumani, with Banksea having earlier landed the totepool Chip & Pin Betting Handicap.

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the 11-10 favourite was always travelling powerfully and galloped on to beat Darshini by a shade over two lengths.

"He won quite well and he's obviously an improving horse," Atzeni told Racing UK.

"It was a bit messy early on as they didn't go very quick and he was a little bit keen, but I liked the way he picked up and he galloped all the way to the line.

"He's a horse that's still learning, but he's obviously going the right way and I can see him improving again."

Fancy Day looks another smart juvenile for Mark Johnston after making every post a winning one in the totepool Like Us On Facebook EBF Stallions Novice Fillies' Stakes.

The 100/30 chance has reportedly taken a while to come to hand, but looks sure to go on to better things judge on this taking debut.

The trainer's son and assistant, Charlie Johnston, said: "She just blossomed in the last month or so. She did one bit of work last week, we thought she was ready to go and she's done it very well today.

"She's won comfortably, but whether there was a huge amount of strength in depth I'm not so sure.

"There are plenty of novice races and we'll just try and win another race with her."

Lucy Wadhman's Pumblechook (8/11 favourite) rewarded odds-on backers in the totepool Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Auction Stakes, while Wind Place And Sho (4/1) galloped his rivals into submission in the two-and-a-quarter-mile totepoolliveinfo.com Pontefract Cup.

Winning trainer James Eustace said: "I was hopeful. He was in the Ascot Stakes, but he never looked like getting in and I told the owner it probably wasn't a bad thing as this looked a race he could win.

"He travelled round really well and did it nicely. I think he's pretty consistent and he's certainly improved physically this year. He'll be a lot of fun."

Esteemable was a 4/1 winner of the totepool Racing's Biggest Supporter Fillies' Handicap and the concluding totepool Collect Your Winnings At Betfred Shops Handicap went to 8/1 shot Roll On Rory.