FAST-IMPROVING Uhuru Peak (2.45) handily remains one step ahead of the handicapper for his bid to complete a quick-fire hat-trick at Pontefract today.

Mick Easterby knows the family of Uhuru Peak inside out having also trained Catherine's Well, the dam of the selection.

In her time Catherine's Well won a bundle of races for the Sheriff Hutton-based handler, and this latest offspring looks a chip off the old block judged by a recent brace of victories at Redcar and Warwick.

Uhuru Peak was drawn right out in the cheap seats at Warwick, which meant he had to take the country route and come right round the outside in order to establish his superiority.

The fact that had to cover significantly more ground than his opponents, combined with the less serious mishap of being bumped two furlongs from the finish, made the victory all the more meritorious.

Rancho Cucamonga's (3.45) defeat of Norcroft in a Wolverhampton claimer last time out all seemed rather innocuous to lay observers, but with the benefit of hindsight it was a terrific effort.

Success in an all-weather claiming event doesn't normally inspire - however, as Norcroft has subsequently come out and won a sprint handicap with authority, the evidence now stacks up heavily in favour of Rancho Cucamonga for the Gerrard Management Fillies Stakes.

Habitual tardy starter In the Pink (5.15) sometimes leaves her race in the stalls, but on an uphill track like Pontefract the lost lengths can often be made up quite quickly.

Although Mark Buckley's mare admittedly has her fair share of weight in the Aedas Architects Fillies' Handicap, she's a sturdy sort of individual capable of defying her welter-burden.

Up-and-coming apprentice jockey Greg Fairley has been the subject of rave reviews as a result of some polished performances in the saddle against his elders.

Greg's boss, Mark Johnston, is giving the teenage Scot plenty of opportunities to shine, including aboard Wolverhampton-bound Heybrook Boy (3.00) in the mile-and-a-half Zongalero Restaurant Handicap.

Heybrook Boy, a previous winner at the course over a couple of furlongs less in the earlier part of the year, has since twice flopped when tried on turf.

I've a hunch the selection is far better than his last couple of below par runs would suggest, therefore all might not be lost, especially with the youthful urgings of young Fairly up top.

Although imports from the unlikely source of Poland have been making their mark over the past five years, one such example, Escobar (4.30), has thus far failed to get his head in front.

Even though the four-year-old has yet to win in this country, it's certainly not for the want of trying, trainer Pam Townsley having hit the crossbar with Escobar on his last two starts.

One thing's for sure, the four-year-old has a great attitude to the game and it appears only a matter of time before he forges ahead, maybe in the extended Dunstall Park Handicap.

A brilliant forward planning strategy by Karl Burke has put Platinum Charmer (9.25), the best bet on this evening's meeting at Musselburgh, on the verge of a dazzling four-timer in the closing race on the card.

* Kieren Fallon fulfilled a dream as Hurricane Run got up in the dying strides to land the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh.

The former champion jockey bided his time aboard Andre Fabre's well-backed 4-5 favourite and just forced the French raider past Scorpion towards the line.

Half a length separated the pair, with Shalapour finishing well-held in third spot.

Fallon said: ''For years I have dreamed about winning this race, ever since I was an apprentice - it means everything.''

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