Today’s bets:

4.30 - Pontefract - Errigal Lad - 1 pt e/w. Available at 16/1 (Sportingbet)

Decent prize money has attracted the best field on offer today and it affords the chance for the lightly raced, progressive Eton Rifles to add to his tally. Any further rain will enhance his chances but in a competitive race prices of around 7/2 don't leap out on a track like this. Opus Maximus has the class to prevail if he can keep pace on the drop back to sprinting but it's likely his connections feel they have to try something different from, what is beginning to look, a lofty handicap mark. At a single figure price Red Jade makes limited appeal given his previous form on this track and, in hindsight, his facile win last time out may not be as good as it looked at the time. At his price, Errigal Lad stands out. He has the profile of a horse who is still improving and he goes well for today's jockey. Having won on both soft and fast ground he has proven his versatility toward underfoot conditions. He stays seven furlongs, has won over a stiff six furlongs and is drawn to get the prominent pitch behind the pacesetters he prefers. A generous gallop will suit and he comes here with his powerful stable in very good current form.

5.30 - Pontefract - Jacobite Prince - 1 pt e/w. Available at 20/1 (General)

Only nine runners but it's difficult to find one that doesn't have one question or another to answer and, as such, backing any one of the single priced horses for win purposes doesn't make much appeal. It's quite possible that by the time of this race further rain may have fallen and that will throw another spanner into the works. At a big price a tentative chance is taken on Jacobite Prince. He ran an appalling race last time out but he didn't help himself at the start and it may pay to forgive him that effort. His previous run when finishing an eleven length 7/18 over nine furlongs at Epsom on his reappearance wasn't bad considering he seemed to hate the track. He showed a bit of ability in a seven furlong Maiden in G/S ground last season at Beverley and this mile trip could prove ideal. The handicapper has dropped him ten pounds since he entered handicap company and he could take advantage of that leniency. Arctic Freedom, who seems to be improving with racing, and Zouk, who makes his handicap debut, are the two that seem most likely to provide the main dangers.

8.40 - Southwell - Makshoof - 1 pt e/w. Available at 10/1 (General)