Brighton, Pontefract and Newcastle

Once again mainly low level sport today, although Brighton stage one of their most valuable races of the year at 17.00 CET, a mile handicap with 16 runners and a wide open affair. Count Ceprano (Mark Usher/ David Probert) is normally regarded as an all-weather specialist, but he won his first ever race on turf last week at Goodwood with this apprentice on board and can possibly follow up here. Mount Hermon (Hughie Morrison/ Travis Block), an esy all-weather winner last time, and the consistent Bobski (Gay Kelleway/ Richard Hughes) are just two of several dangers. Best race at Newcastle is the class 5 handicap over 7 furlon gs at 16.50. Top-weight Dorn Dancer (David Barker/ Neil Brown) is ery consistent, loves soft ground, but is possibly better at six furlongs. Frnt-runner Nuit Sombre (Geoff Harler/ Patrick Donagh) foiund 10 furlongs too far on Monday but this trip is better, and Optical Illusion (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan) also has a leading chance. Ex-German Artreju (Gary and Joshua Moore) has shown very inconsistent form since coming to the U.K., but his only win came when partnered by today´sd rider (the younger brother of Jamie and Ryan) and perhaps the combination can click again in the amateurs´ handicap at 15.10 at Pontefract, where Luca Cumani´s Boz (Jamie Spencer) is the likely favourite in the class 3 handicap over 1 1/2 miles at 16.40. Aldo best known as an all-weather performer, winning 5 races last year, he recently won well on turf and despite a rise in the weights can score again.