Top Notch Tonto tipped to score on Pontefract’s closing card (From Gazette & Herald)

Top Notch Tonto tipped to score on Pontefract’s closing card

9:36am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

With four white legs and a broad white blaze on his face, Top Notch Tonto is a flashy looking horse.

He is also a money-spinner and this afternoon at Pontefract he promises to provide East Yorkshire trainer Ian McInnes with his first Listed race winner.

Pontefract’s final meeting of the campaign is highlighted by the £23,000 totepool.com Silver Tankard, which is the target of Top Notch Tonto, bought for only 3,000 euros as a yearling, but already twice a winner this season and earner of more than £17,000 in prize money.

McInnes, who is based near Beverley, placed him to win at Ayr’s Gold Cup meeting last month, the juvenile defying a mark of 92 to win a nursery in typically determined fashion.

Top Notch Tonto, who has already run well in defeat on this course, tackles one mile, the distance of his Ayr victory, again today. He faces a few solid sorts in the useful Oasis Cannes and recent winner Pearl Reward, but he is a tough horse to beat, and is napped to prevail in the hands of Norton jockey Patrick Mathers.

Philip Kirby, based at Castleton on the North York Moors, does extremely well with his dual- purpose string and the trainer can complete a hat-trick of wins with Jawaab in the totequickpick Bluff Cove Handicap over a gruelling two and a quarter miles.

The eight-year-old has been in rude health lately, winning at Newcastle and more recently on this course. He is up another 6lb, but is a very strong stayer and Phil Makin, his jockey, knows him well. Despite having 10st to carry over such an extreme distance, Jawaab should take plenty of beating.

Richard Price can take both sprint handicaps on the card with Taurus Twins and Cheveton. Joe Fanning rides both.

Taurus Twins goes for the first division of the Racing Post Form With totepool Mobile Handicap.

Although a bit disappointing at Bath on his latest start, the gelding had previously run well to finish third at Ayr to Another Wise Kid. He goes well in the mud and is fairly handicapped.

Cheveton, who runs in division two, has even stronger claims.

He finished second to Jack Dexter, a winner again at Ascot on Saturday, in last month’s Bronze Cup at Ayr, and finished a close-up sixth to Face The Problem in a hot race at Haydock.

Richard Fahey’s Ayr winner Ingleby Symphony (2.20) and the promising Divine Reward (2.50) are also worth noting.

At Yarmouth tomorrow, Amy Ryan, bidding to win the apprentice championship, can add to her tally of winners aboard Panama Cat, who is napped to come good in the Christmas Parties At Great Yarmouth Racecourse Nursery.

Paul Midgley has a fighting chance with the well-handicapped Lady Sledmere (3.20), who ran an encouraging race at Newcastle recently, while Robin Bastiman sends out Novalist (4.20).

Racing selections

Pontefract (today)
2.20 Ingleby Symphony, 2.50 Divine Reward, 3.20 Taurus Twins, 3.50 Top Notch Tonto (NAP), 4.20 Jawaab, 4.50 Follow The Flag, 5.20 Cheveton.

Today’s other meetings: Plumpton and Windsor.

Yarmouth (tomorrow)
1.50 Cape Of Hope, 2.20 Nickels And Dimes, 2.50 Panama Cat (NAP), 3.20 Lady Sledmere, 3.50 De Rigueur, 4.20 Novalist, 4.50 Exceedexpectations, 5.20 Marah Music.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Lingfield and Exeter.