FLAXTON trainer Noel Wilson, who is soon to shift base to Lanarkshire, can play a starring role at Pontefract’s final meeting of the season this afternoon.

Wilson saddles Hotham in the totesuper7 Handicap over five furlongs and this course and distance winner is fancied to add to his tally of seven career successes.

Hotham underlined his well-being on his latest start at York, where he failed by only a neck to catch Russian Spirit.

A tendency to miss the break and concede ground at the start has cost Hotham dear on occasions but, provided he starts on terms today, he will surely take a deal of beating under Gary Bartley.

Wilson announced at the weekend that he is planning to move to Scotland on December 1 to take over from the retiring Ian Semple at Carluke Stables, which belongs to owner, Gordon McDowell.

Wilson sees it as an opportunity to take his career “to the next level” by having more horses at his disposal. His highlights this season revolve around his high-class sprinter Pavershooz, who won major handicaps through the summer at Musselburgh, Newcastle and Ayr.

A good run from Hotham in the first division of the totesuper7 Handicap will give an added boost to the chances of Go Go Green in the second division, which closes the eight-race card.

Trained in South Yorkshire by David Brown, Go Go Green finished inches behind Hotham at York last time, having previously scored over this course and distance.

An uphill finish seems to suit this smart sprinter and, with Freddie Tylicki again in the saddle, the three-year-old is napped to resume winning ways.

The feature race is the £35,000 totepool Silver Tankard, a Listed race for juveniles over a mile.

Hot Prospect gets my vote. Trained at Newmarket by Michael Jarvis, this handsome colt finished a good second at York on his debut in July and made no mistake at Sandown on his only subsequent start, when he made all the running to score in decisive fashion.

Kieren Fallon takes the mount on Hot Prospect and Jarvis looks to have a sterling chance of following up his success of 12 months ago in this race with Playfellow.

The promising Landowner (2.10), a Warwick winner last time, and Tim Easterby’s Bollin Dolly (4.40), a good second at Redcar last time, are two others to note.

At Yarmouth tomorrow, Chain Of Office is napped to win the firstbet.com Nursery Handicap over one mile.

Trained by William Haggas, this juvenile filly won on her second and latest start at Ffos Las, proving she stays every yard of this distance. A follow up in handicap company is expected to be on the cards.

Kevin Ryan’s High Curragh (4.20) and the Julie Camacho-trained Elkhorn (5.20) are among the North Yorkshire runners to merit careful consideration.


Racing selections

Pontefract (today)
2.10 Landowner, 2.40 Filwa, 3.10 Hotham, 3.40 Hot Prospect, 4.10 Ragamuffin Man, 4.40 Bollin Dolly, 5.10 The Mighty Mod, 5.40 Go Go Green (NAP).

Today’s other meetings:
Plumpton and Windsor.

Yarmouth (tomorrow)
1.50 Rose Of Coma, 2.20 Strictly Lambada, 2.50 Mujdeya, 3.20 Rule Of Nature, 3.50 Chain Of Office, 4.20 High Curragh, 4.50 King Of Defence, 5.20 Elkhorn.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Lingfield and Exeter.