VICTOIRE De Lyphar can end the season on a high at Pontefract by claiming his first victory since June 2010.

Now in the care of Ruth Carr, this son of Bertolini seems to have been around for an eternity yet is still only a five-year-old.

He is also not far off being one of the best sprint handicappers in the business on his day, as evidenced by his second- placed finish in the 2010 Ayr Gold Cup.

Victoire De Lyphar had, however, rather lost his way for former trainer David Nicholls and was sent to Carr following a subdued display in this season’s Stewards’ Cup.

The change of scenery did not have an immediate effect, but he showed at Ayr a fortnight ago the fires still burn brightly.

Fitted with a first-time eyeshield, he overcame an erratic start to soon lead, but was convincingly put in his place by Barkston Ash, to whom he was giving a stone in weight.

That was a really promising effort, especially as the ground was testing, which is again likely to be the case for the second division of the Racing Post Form With totepool Mobile Handicap.

Victoire De Lyphar has only had 20 runs in his life, which makes him sparingly campaigned for a sprinter, and remains 6lb lower than when he was last successful.

He looks a solid shout in a trappy encounter.

As, too, does Pearl Reward in the feature race of the day, the totepool.com Silver Tankard Stakes.

Stuart Williams’ youngster could not have won with any more purpose over this course and distance in September, with eight lengths an accurate barometer in which to measure his dominance.

The Medaglia D’Oro colt clearly likes to get his toe in, and is worth a shot at this level in what looks an ordinary encounter for the prizemoney.

Windsor race for the first time since Richard Hughes’ seven-timer on Monday, but, sadly, the man-of-the-moment is not in action.

Trainer Richard Hannon, Hughes’ father-in-law and his main supply-line for winners, still has a handful of excellent chances, though, the best of which possibly being Aldwick Bay.

This four-year-old gelding has already twice been successful at the track and again demonstrated his fondness for soft ground here a fortnight ago.

The Danehill Dancer gelding looked for all the world like the winner of a tight handicap, but was chinned on the line by Scottish Boogie.

Aldwick Bay is clearly coming to hand nicely for the fittingly-named Royal Windsor Hughesie Seven Handicap and, despite the handicapper’s recent intervention, is still 1lb lower than when he last won here in May.

How Front Page News will handle the ground is anyone’s guess, but he perhaps represents a calculated gamble in the RJ Clyde Builders Nursery.

The two-year-old filly won her maiden over this course and distance in some style in June, and again performed honourably when second at Newbury in August.

As long as she is at home in the mud – her sire’s progeny have winning form on soft ground – Front Page News could feasibly prove a bit better than her mark of 74.

Pete The Feat got the job done nicely at Uttoxeter earlier in the month and can add to his gains from a 7lb higher rating in the Gerald Karn- Smith Memorial Handicap Chase at Plumpton.