Federal charge to reward at Pontefract

Smart gelding Federal Envoy is taken to follow up his impressive debut success with victory in the Northern Commercials Iveco Driveaway Novice Stakes at Pontefract today.

Karl Burke won this in 2021 with the Group One-placed sprinter Spycatcher and few would be surprised if this son of Bated Breath ended up plying his trade at a higher level, judged on the way he held off a 420,000 euro newcomer from the John and Thady Gosden stable first time up at Southwell.

While Federal Envoy only prevailed by a neck, he looked thoroughly professional in repelling the challenge of the runner-up, who had the benefit of a previous start.

Burke could be at the double in the Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap, where South Shore attempts to go one better than his Wolverhampton second on stable debut.

He bumped into a useful performer on that occasion who has gone on to give the form a decent look and this son of Blue Point has always hinted at being a winner in waiting.

There is always a competitive field for the Jamaican Flight Handicap over 3600m and there is a chance Dominic Ffrench Davis' Maxident could prove much better than his current handicap mark.

A whopping 50-length winner of his maiden at Leicester on heavy ground, he lost little in defeat when bumping into St Leger third Gregory on a sounder surface at Haydock next time.

Further experience was garnered among useful company over the subsequent months before the son of Nathaniel was thrown in at the deep end on British Champions Day, tasked with defying outsider status in the Long Distance Cup.

Although the official result will say he was well beaten, Maxident took up pacemaking duties that day and was holding his own until the closing stages where his early exertions took their toll.

It is interesting he is the only ride of the day for David Egan, retained rider for owner Amo Racing, and back in handicap company the four-year-old could make his mark off a figure of 79.

Vintage Clarets enjoyed a sterling campaign in 2023 and can open this term with a win in the William Hill Extra Place Races Every Day Handicap.

He struck gold four times for Richard Fahey and only really disappointed once in 13 starts, when his stall was a fraction late in opening in the Dash at Epsom.

A starting mark of 97 is 3kg higher than last year but it is a fair reflection of Vintage Clarets' consistent efforts. -