Northern Svengali, who endured a nightmare passage at Beverley last week, is well worth another chance on his favoured fast ground in the Byron Handicap at Nottingham this afternoon.

David Barron's sprinter looked to have the best of the draw on that occasion but he was hampered at halfway and again over a furlong out before wisely being eased in the closing stages.

He is much better judged on his beating of Danakim over this trip on very fast ground at Newcastle early last week and he can actually meet the runner-up on better terms this time. A strong pace is very likely to be set by Rita's Rock Ape, Our Fred and the speedy Danakim and this should just set the race up nicely for him.

The gelding is taken to beat Rae Guest's Mousehole. Mousehole will also appreciate a strong gallop and is better than he showed at Yarmouth last time, when he admittedly had conditions in his favour. He is bidding to go one better than he did in the corresponding race last year.

Another who can benefit from the watering system breaking down at the Midlands venue is Best Port, who has been running with credit of late and can land the Watson Fothergill Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

Over this trip at Redcar last time the five-year-old ran right up to his best when a close third to Mental Pressure and he is preferred to likely market leader Linea-G, who has been well placed to win three races recently.

Mark Johnston's stable has been in excellent form this term and his Eurolink Artemis will take plenty of beating in the classifed stakes over a mile and a quarter at 5.15.

On only her second outing for Johnston, the filly showed plenty of courage to fend off Swynford Elegance in a handicap over this trip at Newcastle last week and she should be better suited to today's conditions than any of her rivals.

At this evening's Pontefract meet Young Bigwig has the benefit of a low draw and can notch his second win in three outings in the Walnut Handicap over six furlongs. David Chapman's sprinter had the draw in his favour when beating subsequent winner Referendum at Ripon and he went on to run a cracker when second to Ryefield at Ayr last time.

Chapman has the knack of getting the best out of his sprinters and the gelding, who looks in tremendous shape at present, is fancied to beat Milton Bradley's Currency, who turned in his best effort to date when winning at Redcar recently.

Alan Swinbank's horses have been in tremendous form and his Gracilis should relish the step up to the testing two miles and one furlong of the Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap.

The gelding looked a stayer on the upgrade on his all-weather debut at Southwell last time when he stuck on dourly to pip Battle Warning, who had been in fair form at the track in previous months, in the shadow of the post.

There's almost certainly better to come from this lightly raced sort over this trip and has shown he can handle fast ground. He is taken to beat Mick Easterby's Sandbaggedaga in, who looks to retain most of his ability.