At Pontefract in the 3.40 the 11/2 about Southern raider Yonder seems potentially generous as the five year old won a bumper at Exeter on similar ground, so clearly handles the faster going, and was also a modest third in a Newcastle maiden over a mile and a half last season. After a pipe opener on the all weather, again over a mile and a half, she makes her handicap debut here off a mark of 63 which looks interesting, especially with the extra six furlongs to travel here, and with the step up in trip it would be no great surprise to me to see her make her presence felt for canny trainer Hughie Morrison who is a handler I have a lot of time for.

In the 4.40 Select looks sure to run well. This daughter of Choisir had a nice introduction at Lingfield before looking potentially smart behind Baileys Cacao at Newmarket in a Listed event last June on firm ground. She disappointed on her only run after that when the odds on favourite at Nottingham but the soft underfoot conditions were all against her and connections reported she failed to handle it. There should be no excuse on the rattling ground today and she has been seen working to good effect on Newmarket’s limekiln gallops and ought to be a class above these rivals.

At Fontwell the 3.30 looks to be at the mercy of the Mick Quinlan-trained Black Beauty who will start a short priced favourite today. He has proved expensive to follow this winter over jumps when seemingly reluctant to put his best foot forward but he has a chance to repay his followers this afternoon. A massive drop in class will surely see him putting his head in front at last in this very poor contest.