FRANKIE DETTORI continues the defence of his champion jockey's title at Pontefract this afternoon with every hope of partnering a winner via Improvise (5.20).
Clive Brittain's Newmarket raider showed bags of pace last year, twice filling second spot over today's trip of six furlongs. Brittain seems sure to have his speedy filly nicely tuned up for the Maiden Fillies Stakes, a contest in which the main danger to Dettori's mount may well emerge from the Barry Hills-trained Dixieanna.
Green 'N' Gold returns to the course in an attempt to take the Jamaican Flight Handicap for the second year in succession, but I reckon Micky Hammond's mare might be thwarted by the horse which chased her home on that occasion, Vicars Destiny (4.10).
Sue Lamyman will have been eyeing the marathon two-mile-and-two-furlong event for the last couple of months, teeing up the seven-year-old with an excellent fourth placing in a red-hot 0-140 three-mile Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster this month.
The £15,000 Pontefract Park Stakes is the feature race on the card, attracting a strong southern challenge from the likes of former Royal Ascot Hunt Cup winner, Norton, plus top-weight Putra Kuantan, and Alfonso.
Although none of that talented trio can be discounted with any confidence, preference remains for one of the home team, Mrs Moh (3.35), who hit the target at both Chester and Haydock during a highly lucrative 2004 campaign.
Tim Easterby's typically tough and genuine four-year-old is perfectly happy on rain-softened ground, which combined with the fact that's she's not badly in at the weights either, augurs positively for the one-mile showpiece.
Having recently bailed out of Ireland's top stable, Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard, Jamie Spencer's services are in great demand now that he's a freelance jockey.
Welsh wizard David Evans has snapped up Spencer to ride his brace of two-year-olds, Wizby (2.10) and Danjet (2.45), in the opening two races at Warwick.
Evans generally has his juveniles fit and ready to run for their lives, boding well for the newcomer, Wizby, while Danjet proved his ability by finishing runner-up on his debut at Lingfield ten days ago.
Jamie might also be on the mark with Precious Mystery (4.30) in the mile-and-three-furlong Racing UK Handicap.
Alan King's filly won in a veritable bog at Brighton last season, and could find testing conditions at the Midlands venue. In addition Precious Mystery will be all the better for her recent two spins on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, both times not beaten far into third spot.
* Shane Kelly was suspended for 14 days and trainer James Eustace fined £2,000 over the running and riding of Local Fancy at Warwick.
The two-year-old filly, returned at 8-1 after opening at 6-1, was also banned from running for 40 days following the Racing UK Median Auction Maiden Fillies Stakes.
Making her racecourse debut, Local Fancy was slowly away and ran green. She made headway in the closing stages to finish fourth, beaten 4 lengths by the winner, Sounds Simla.
After interviewing Newmarket trainer Eustace and the jockey, as well as viewing recordings of the race, the stewards punished them under the non-triers' rule.
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