Pontefract today

3 meetings today, and while Southwell has a very poor all-weather card and Carlisle low-level N.H.racing (with some very small fields at both tracks), there is an above-average Tuesday card at Pontefract with runners from the top Newmarket stables and points further south. The 10 furlongs handicap at 17.15 CET is quite valuable by the standards of this course and looks very competitive, with the horses at the top of the weights having black type form to their credit. Mick Channon had a winner yesterday and his Amralah (William Buick) is forecast to start favourite, but we are not convinced and the soft going is not in his favour. Richard Fahey has started the season well and his two runners deserve close attention: Romantic Settings (Ryan Moore) and Las Verglas Star (Paul Hanagan). At these weights we prefer the latter, who has a good course record and was third in this last year. Hanagan and Fahey also team up at 16.10 with Foxy Clarets in the 3yo handicap and this one has a decent e.w. chance. Sir Michael Stoute is another trainer in good form and saddles two in the 3yo maiden at 15.40, both owned by Hamdan al Maktoum; Hanagan, the owner´s retained jockey, has chosen Munaaser and has probably made the right decision, with Stoute´s main jockey Ryan Moore on the big danger, William Haggas´ Zee Zeely.
Tony McCoy, two winners yesterday at Kelso, continues his northern tour with 3 rides for Donald McCain and 2 for Jonjo O ´Neill at Carlisle. None of them look exactly bombproof, but it will be a surprise if he doesn´t go home with at least a couple more winners to his name. Supreme Asset and Moss Cloud in the first two races probably have the best chances.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Life And Times - Hakuna Matata - Lord Franklin
2. Race: Munaaser - Zee Zeely - Arbaab
3. Race: Kenny The Captain - Jazz - Aspirant
4. Race: Calculated Risk - Fitzwilly - Madam Lilibet
5. Race: Centurius - Clayton - Amralah
6. Race: Two Smart - Danehill Revival - Princess Rose
7. Race: Cathedral - High Office - Mash Potato