Brighton, Pontefract and Newcastle

Plenty of racing in the U.K. and Ireland today, but most of it at a very low level. Strangely enough, despite the heavy rainfall in many parts of Britain yesterday, the going is reported to be good to firm all over. At Newcastle, the 6 furlongs seller at 16.50 could be the most interesting race. Hiccups (Michael Dods/ Phillip Makin) and Darcey (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan) are the highest-rated runners, but apprentice-ridden Soto (Mick Easterby/ James Sullivan) and Ice Planet (Ruth Carr/ Dean Heslop) look dangerous -. especially the last-named whose stable is in red-hot form. The mile maiden race here at 17.20 looks a straight match between Storming Sioux (William Haggas/ Richard Hills) and German-bred Starla Dancer (Fahey/ Hanagan). At Brighton, the mile handicap at 17.00 is worth over 16,000 GBP to the winner, which makes it one of the most valuable races of the year at this track. With 16 runners, it looks wide open. Burns Night (Mark Johnson/ Greg Fairley), the only 3yo i n the field, Driven (Amanda Perrett/ Jim Crowley), a CD winner from an in-form yard, and Northern Spy (Simon Dow/ Tom Queally), an easy Epsom winner last time, are our three for the short list.

There are also 16 runners in the 6 furlongs handicap at 18.00, in which top-weight and last-time-out winner Eye for the Girls (Mick Channon/ Darryll Holland) is the likely favourite. However Dancing Welcome (Milton Bradley/ Luke Morris) was not far behind him last time and can reverse the form on 4 lbs better terms. At Pontefract, the veterans handicap at 17.40 over a mile is for 6yo´s and older horses; it has attracted a large field, but consistent Exit Smiling (Peter Midgeley/ Neil Callan) looks a solid each-way bet. The 1 1/2 mile handicap here at 16.40 has only 7 runners, but looks quite tricky. Bottom weight High Ambition (Richard Fahey/ Freddie Tylicki) is moving up in grade here but can score again.