16:53 Pontefract

4:53 Pontefract- Ecology 10/1 (0.5pt ew) 

The market is dominated by last time out winners Up The Pace, Sir Palamedes and Top Juggler but I am willing to take a chance on the handicap debutant ECOLOGY (best priced at 10/1). The Ollie Sangster trained filly finished 2nd beaten only 1 ½ lengths on her debut at Haydock before disappointing on her next two starts at Newbury. 

The horse who Ecology finished 2nd to on her debut is now rated 90 so this opening mark of 78 could prove lenient if she could recapture her debut form and connections have reached for first time blinkers to try to assist her. Kevin Stott is once again on board and she should outrun her double figure odds. 

17:23 Pontefract

5:23 Pontefract- Fiscal Policy 4/1 (1pt) 

FISCAL POLICY (best priced at 4/1) has shown improved form this season since joining the Ruth Carr stable and he can hopefully make it three wins from his previous four starts. The five-year-old won after a 177 day break at Catterick off a mark of 62 before finishing 3rd at Hamilton on heavy ground off a mark of 67. 

Fiscal Policy got back to winning ways last time over this course and distance off a mark of 68 in an apprentice handicap under Aidan Keeley and the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that ½ length success. He instead runs here unpenalised so he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and should prove hard to beat if able to get a good early position from Stall 9. 

16:35 Haydock

Friday 4:35 Haydock- Billy No Mates 6/1 (0.5pt ew)

The Michael Dods trained BILLY NO MATES (best priced at 6/1) will prove popular with punters if he can record back-to-back victories in this race. The eight-year-old won this contest by three lengths last season on soft ground off a mark of 75 and following some below par efforts this season he has dropped down to a mark of 72. 

This return to soft ground will no doubt suit Billy No Mates well and Connor Beasley now takes back over from a 7lb claimer on board.