Bethell bids for more Pomfret glory with Point Lynas

Ed Bethell is hoping history repeats itself in more ways than one when he lines up Point Lynas for his third Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract on Sunday.

Point Lynas was an all-the-way winner of the Listed contest in 2024, coming home unchallenged by five and a half lengths, but a follow-up bid 12 months ago fell flat with the now seven-year-old finishing last of the six runners.

With hindsight Bethell put that disappointing run down to the gelding having a tough race when finishing second in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot two weeks before his repeat bid.

So having swerved this year’s Summer Mile only to watch this weekend’s chief rival Holloway Boy finish runner-up, Bethell is keeping his fingers crossed that lightning might strike twice.

“Holloway Boy is the one to beat here after he ran so well to finish second in the Summer Mile but we did that last year and it left its mark on us so it might be the same this year with him,” said Bethell.

“We had initially been looking at the Ascot race again this time around but it turned out to be a Group One in all but name so we opted out in order to keep him fresh for this so it is fingers crossed.”

Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy certainly sets the form standard after chasing home stablemate Zeus Olympios in the Ascot Group Two a fortnight ago.

But the six-year-old has won just three races in 29 attempts and is without a win on turf in 13 runs stretching back to September 2024.

Bethell added: “We are looking forward to running as Point Lynas obviously likes it round there so we will keep our fingers crossed he gets a good trip round but we are under no illusions Holloway Boy is going to be hard to beat.

Meanwhile, David O’Meara will make a late call on the participation of Cerulean Bay, with the gelding a possibility to be redirected to Goodwood next week if forecast rain does not arrive in West Yorkshire.