Pontefract Ladies Day Wednesday 5th August Handicap

Well beaten on his most recent start, below form by a wide margin off a mark just 1lb higher than today, and he needs to reverse that substantially; his trainer is out of sorts, and despite first-time cheekpieces his profile here is hard to warm to.

Ran creditably at Thirsk last time, beaten just over 3 lengths off a mark 2lb higher than today, and he enjoys dominating at the front over 5/6f on a sound surface; tends to pull hard but is capable off this mark if he settles.

Runner-up in each of her last three starts, including a narrow defeat by three-quarters of a length here off a mark just 1lb below today's, and she handles this course and surface well; with a top jockey aboard from stall 4, she looks the one to beat.

Landed a handicap at Beverley last time, finishing strongly to score by 1.5 lengths off a mark 6lb lower than today, and the top course trainer is a positive; first-time tongue-tie and blinkers accompany a significant rise in the weights, though, and more improvement is needed at this higher level.

Pulled too hard at Thirsk last time but still ran to his level, beaten only 2 lengths off this exact mark, and he handles the distance on good ground; the tendency to be headstrong is the reservation, but he has a genuine chance here if he can settle.