Newmarket and Pontefract this evening

Newmarket stage another of its July evening meetings today, followed by a pop concert, which always attracts a huge crowd. There are some large and very competitive fields, but Carniolan (Walter Swinburn/ Adam Kirby) looks a good bet to defeat 14 opponents in the 3yo handicap over 7 furlongs at 19.45 CET. He has a big weight, but the way he won at Ascot a week ago was most impressive. The best race on the card is the class 3 conditios stakes over 5 furlongs at 20.15. There are 12 runners, but the two top-weights Hoh Mike (Mchael Bell/ Jamie Spencer) and Peace Offering (David Nicholls/ Ted Durcan) stand out on form as they have both run well in group races. Hoh Mike finished in front of Peace Offering at Sandown in May, but there may be little between them toda. The nicely-named Cute Ass (Karl Burke/ Andrew Elliott), a 3yo filly receiving quite a bit of weight, is making her seasonal debut, but looked a very promising sprinter last year. The best race at Pontefract is also over 5 furlongs, this time a handicap at 20.35. With 15 runners this is the most difficult race of the day, but CDspecialist Mr. Wolf (Derek Barker/ Greg Fairley) is clearly one to be considered. The first time blinkers might help Green Park (Richard fahey/ Jamie Moriarty) and Efistorm (Charles Dore/ Hayley Turner) looks very dangerous after his good run at Ascot last week. The tough Dickie le Davoir, running for the 23rd time since Christmas (!) won here 10 days ago, but has been unplaced twice since. However he can never be discounted.