JOCKEY George Baker, narrowly denied at Ascot on Saturday aboard Al Kazeem in the Champion Stakes, pays a rare visit to Pontefract this afternoon to bid for the feature race.

Baker, one of the tallest riders on the Flat circuit, teams up with My Reward, trained by the in-form Charlie Hills, as the pair go in search of Listed honours in the Totepool Silver Tankard.

Hills, who won this race in 2011 with Letsgoroundagain, has placed My Reward to win both his races to date. The Rail Link colt scored at Ffos Las on his debut and has since followed up at Kempton, beating Sharp Sailor, who reopposes this afternoon, by a nose.

There should be precious little to choose between the pair again today and the outcome may rest on which of them performs best on the forecast soft ground, conditions which neither of them has yet to face.

Not that it's a two-horse race by any means. Carry on Deryck and the hat-trick seeking pair Natural Charm and Power Play, not to mention the handsome Prince Gagarin all command respect.

As for Baker, who came within a neck of beating Lady Cecil's Noble Mission - brother of the brilliant Frankel - in Saturday's showpiece event on Al Kazeem, he has ridden here only three times in the last five years and has one winner to show for his Pontefract efforts. There is every chance he can double his course tally on My Reward, who carries the Noble Mission colours of Prince Khalid Abdulla.

The final meeting of the season at the course boasts a bumper eight-race card and Norton trainer John Quinn may get proceedings off on the right foot with Youonlyliveonce in the Win Big With The totejackpot Nursery Handicap.

The juvenile shaped well to finish second at Nottingham last week in his first handicap. Provided this race does not come too quickly for him, he can be fancied to go one better under Joe Doyle, who claims an invaluable 5lb.

Quinn also has sound claims with Calculated Risk in the totrifecta Bluff Cove Handicap.

Phillip Makin's mount, a useful hurdler, has not run since finishing unplaced at York in May, but he had previously finished a close-up third over this course and extreme distance. Although there is obviously a chance that he may need this comeback outing, he is not to be overlooked.

In the totequadpot Four Places In Four Races Handicap, Adam's Ale promises to go well under champion apprentice Jason Hart.

Previously trained by Paul Midgley, the five-year-old finished a close-up second to Meadway on his latest start at Ripon. He may be able to get his revenge on that rival on 2lb better terms, especially as Meadway is drawn widest of all in stall 17.

Hart has another good chance aboard the hat-trick chasing Lord Franklin in the totepool Racing's Biggest Supporter Handicap (division one), but Eric Alston's charge is climbing in the weights and may have to give best this time to Docs Legacy, trained by Richard Fahey.

The gelding ran a fine race in defeat at Redcar recently to finish second to the progressive Stetchworth. Proven on soft ground, Docs Legacy can go one better this time under Tony Hamilton.

Fahey and Hamilton also have good prospects with Devious Spirit in the Bet toteplacepot On All UK Meetings Maiden Auction. Out of his depth in Ireland last time, the two-year-old had shown ability when runner-up on his debut at Thirsk.

Heavy ground at Windsor will doubtless take its toll on any number of runners, but Commanche (2.20), who is proven in the mud and who ran a fine race on his latest start at Newmarket, makes plenty of appeal. He is awarded the nap vote to win for Newmarket trainer Chris Dwyer and North Yorkshire apprentice Shane Gray.

Dwyer and Gray have every chance of following up with Patriotic (3.20), who is also expected to cope with the gruelling conditions and who ran well at Newcastle three weeks ago.


Selections

Pontefact today
2.10 Youonlyliveonce, 2.40 Devious Spirit, 3.10 Adam's Ale, 3.40 My Reward, 4.10 Galuppi, 4.40 Calculated Risk, 5.10 Docs Legacy, 5.40 Endless Credit.

Windsor today
1.50 Wolfofwallstreet, 2.20 Commanche (NAP), 2.50 Yeenaan, 3.20 Patriotic, 3.50 Ahoy There, 4.20 Lunar Spirit, 4.50 Rylee Mooch, 5.20 Now What.

Today's other meeting
Plumpton.

Tomorrow's meetings
Exeter, Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.