Paddywack, who shaped as though coming to hand at York last time, can win the Window Solutions KBE Showcase Handicap for the second year in succession at Pontefract today.

This tough six-year-old fared the best of those coming off the pace on the Knavesmire on his most recent start when a close third to Ellens Academy, who had previously been in good form for his current yard.

David Chapman's gelding will be much better suited by this stiff uphill finish than at York, and he's on a lower rating than when beating Time N Time Again in this race last year.

He won't mind if there's any rain, looks to be well drawn in stall eight and he's taken to beat Roxanne Mill, who hasn't been disgraced in better company of late and holds fair each-way claims.

Donna's Double likes fast ground and is taken to open his account for the year in the Sponsor A Race At Pontefract Handicap over his optimum trip of a mile and a quarter.

Don Eddy's eight-year-old is a bit better than the bare form of his last few runs would suggest as he's been caught out in steadily run races - he needs a strong gallop - and was below his best from a wide draw at York last time.

He's drawn on the outside again but there's not the disadvantage there is from racing wide at this course as there is at York and it will be no surprise to see him go close with conditions in his favour.

Carte Sauvage, who looked a slightly unlucky loser at Ayr last time, is taken to make amends in the Tote Bookmakers Silver Tankard Listed Race over a mile.

On that occasion Keith Dalgleish dropped his whip with a furlong and a half to run and the combination were just pipped in the shadow of the post by Kelucia, who has since run well in both Listed and Group races at Newmarket.

Course specialist Academy is weighted to beat recent conqueror Accepting and is taken to go close in the Bluff Cove Handicap over two miles and two furlongs.

At Wolverhampton Goodbye Mr Bond looks an interesting runner in the Saffie Joseph Handicap over the extended mile and one furlong.

On his all-weather debut over a mile at this course last time, Eric Alston's three-year-old fared the best of those that attempted to come from off the pace when third to Rocinante.

The extra furlong of this contest will be very much to his liking and, with further improvement likely on this surface, he's taken to beat likely favourite Ofaraby.

Monte Mayor Lad is a proven performer on this surface and should appreciate the return to six furlongs in the Visit The Wedding Fayre At Dunstall Park Median Auction Maiden.

Derek Haydn-Jones' three-year-old is well drawn for one that races up with the pace, has a good chance at the weights and is taken to get the better of David Elsworth's Miss Poppets.

Elsworth can have better luck with Bi Polar, who is bred to be suited by this surface and showed enough on turf last time to suggest he has fair claims in an open-looking seven-furlong handicap.

* Hugs Dancer managed a valiant seventh in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup in Australia to leave him firmly on course for the Melbourne Cup.

The James Given-trained gelding finished three lengths behind winner Mummify over a mile and a half in a race, which is considered a traditional prep for the showpiece event at Flemington on November 4.

''It went very well,'' Given told Channel 4.

''We were second turning in over what is his absolute minimum trip and they just had the turn of foot to go past him."

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