Quinn unleashes new hope

New Planet looked a useful recruit for the John Quinn stable when landing a gamble on his debut in the Welcome To Yorkshire Action Packed Outdoors Maiden Stakes at Pontefract today.

Cut to 7-2 from 11-2 on the track after being backed from 20-1 to 7-1 in the morning, the Majestic Missile youngster justified the strong support in sterling fashion.

He stormed past the 2-1 favourite Major Muscari in the final furlong to score by two and a half lengths in the hands of 5lb claimer Ian Brennan.

"We bought him at the breeze-ups at Kempton in March. We always liked him but he coughed and had sore shins," said Quinn.

"He has been working well at home. When you get them from the breeze-ups they know their job.

"He's quick and he won't go any further than five furlongs."

Gulf Coast (12-1) denied Umverti a fourth course win when pouncing on the long-time leader close home in the Yorkshire Society Handicap under a powerful drive from Graham Gibbons.

Despite some less than encouraging recent form figures, Tim Walford's charge outstayed the runner-up by half-a-length.

"I needed that - it's put a smile back on my face," said Walford.

"I've been a bit down with it - my horses have not been running right.

"I knew this fella would get a mile and a half and the owner had lost confidence in him. He asked me to get rid of him, so we had one last try.

"He'd dropped down to a mark off which he could win and Graham Gibbons was marvellous on him. He's the best jockey for me."

Kieren Fallon was at his confident best when getting Northside Prince's head in front for the first time in the Graham Rock Memorial Handicap.

Fresh from a big race double at York on Saturday Fallon's good form continued.

Alan Swinbank's four-year-old was always travelling nicely in the ex-champion's hands and when he asked the 9-2 shot for his effort the four-year-old responded in game fashion to win by half a length from Holiday Cocktail.

"He's been an unlucky horse, it's just been one those things," said Swinbank's assistant Bill Haigh.

"He looked like he was going to win at Ayr last year when there was a melee."

There was a thrilling dead-heat in the feature race, the Sky Bet Supporting The Yorkshire Racing Festival Pomfret Stakes, as Rio De La Plata (5-2) and Mabait (5-1) could not be split by the judge.

Harrison George took the field along and when Paul Hanagan kicked on turning in, for a few strides it looked as if he had slipped the field.

Rio De La Plata quickened well, however, and Daragh O'Donohoe must have thought he had the race in the bag.

Fallon could be seen making stealthy headway down the outside though and as the pair flashed past the post he looked to have done enough.

However, there was nothing between them on the freeze frame and the pair shared the spoils.

Unfortunately for Sir Michael Stoute Zacinto disappointed yet again.

O'Donohoe said: "He travelled well through the race. The only thing was I would have preferred more juice in the ground.

"I think he would have won and picked up a lot better.

"Today he battled well and gave me everything. It was the just the ground that found him out.

"It was a bit too fast for him, but he's back. We can take him anywhere now as long as he comes home safe."

Godolphin's representative William Balding added: "He ran great and we're very happy with him. He did everything right and stuck his neck out.

"I'm sure Simon (Crisford) and Saeed (bin Suroor) will sort something out for him."

Fallon said of Luca Cumani's Mabait: "I thought I'd won a neck. I knew where the line was. He was coming back at me but I thought I'd got it.

"He ran a great race and was back to form after his run at Newmarket.

"He's been on the go a while but all our horses are in great form, they look great and he is one of those that keeps progressing.

"Hopefully there is more to come. The turning track here suited him and I think he's capable of stepping up again."

Sarah Cumani, wife of the trainer, added: "He ran a really good race and everything suited him well.

"He liked the turning track and enjoyed the smaller field as he's been up against it in big handicaps. This suited him well and we are thrilled.

"I thought we'd got there. It was good and they both deserved to win."