4 poor meetings today

As so often, Monday´s cards are very low grade. There are also some small fields, and races with normal each-way betting are in a minority. The best racing comes from Pontefract, where a class 3 handicap for fillies over 6 furlongs at 17.00 CET is the day´s top race. Midnight Dynamo (Jim Goldie/ Graham Lee) is the lijkely favourite here, after scoring at Ayr 9 days ago, but for us the most likely winner is top-weight Misplaced Fortune (Nigel Tinkler/ Jason Hart); this 8yo has been running without much success in better company, but she has a good record over this CD, and won a similar race here off the same mark last September.

Frankie Dettori, who has just signed a contract as jockey to Joann al Thani, is at Wolverhampton, where he has a chance in the 1 1/2 miles handicap for 3yo´s at 17.45 on the lightly-raced Bantam (Ed Dunlop), but our preference here is Alwilda (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris), who is moving up to a trip which should certainly suit, as her dam Albanova won 3 Group Ones in Germany over this distance.

Richard Hughes is usually the jockey to follow at Windsor´s evening meetings and has several good chances today. We feel that he can win on Richard Hannon´s Priska at 17.00 and Hughie Morrison´s Realize an hour later, but he could play second fiddle to Ryan Moore at 20.30 and 22.00.

This evening´s card at Ffos Las is particularly poor, but oldtimer Schelm (Ronnie Leary /Shane Kelly) is an interesting runner in the 2 mile handicap at 20.15; this ex-German horse, now trained in Ireland, has some useful N.H, form to his credit, but runs here on the flat off a very low rating.

Pontefract - betting forecast:
1. Race: City Ground - Tenhoo - Tapis Libre
2. Race: Rufford - Cool Bahamian - Fair Ranger
3. Race: Centred - Huffoof - Villa Royale
4. Race: Rivas Rhapsody - Midnight Dynamo - Fanrouge
5. Race: World Map - Astrum - Halfwaytocootehill
6. Race: Noble Deed - Nurpur - Khelman
7. Race: Dubious Escapade - Cono Zur - Lord Franklin