MISTER MANANNAN, who has returned to form with a vengeance recently, is fancied to chalk up a hat-trick of wins at Pontefract this afternoon for North Yorkshire trainer Dandy Nicholls, who has his string in tremendous heart.

Nicholls sent out Barnet Fair to win a sizeable prize at Goodwood on Saturday and was also responsible for two winners at Carlisle on Monday evening.

The Sessay trainer has returned Mister Manannan to the groove by placing him to win twice at Beverley in recent weeks. Today's target, the Chaplins Club Handicap, named after the ultra-popular and super-tough North Yorkshire sprinter who was such a prolific winner in the 1980s, is a more challenging affair.

But Nicholls has given Mister Manannan every chance by booking smart apprentice Kevin Stott to erase all but one pound of the penalty his horse picked up last week when winning comfortably. He should run a big race.

John Quinn has good prospects of getting the meeting off to a good start with nap selection Poetic Verse in the Richard Kendall Estate Agent New Pontefract Office Handicap, a race for amateur riders.

The four-year-old was a winner at Doncaster on his last Flat start nearly six weeks ago, but he has since followed up over hurdles at Cartmel. Quinn hs engaged the services of top amateur Simon Walker to ride this afternoon and Poetic Verse will be hard to beat.

Mark Johnston's horses continue in excellent form and the Middleham trainer has a good chance with Flash Fire in the Friends Of Francis Hamilton Memorial Maiden Stakes.

The Sharmardal colt showed plenty of promise when finishing third at Ascot on his debut. He will know more this time.

Imishvalla was a winner on this course for Richard Fahey three weeks ago and the Malton trainer has returned her in a bid to follow up in the Jayne And Steve Robinson - Your Local Bookmaker Handicap.

The £15,000 tiesplanet.com - Ladies Love Guys In Ties Handicap over a mile and a half is the richest race on the card and Only Orsenfoolsies should not be left out of calculations, especially if the expected rain arrives in time.

Micky Hammond has placed the five-year-old to win his last two races, one here and the latest at Ripon where he galloped his rivals into submission after making all the running.

Ease in the ground suits Only Orsenfoolsies, who will even more fancied if the rain arrives.

At Yarmouth's evening meeting, Freddie Tylicki looks the jockey to follow.

The former Malton-based champion apprentice has eked out a useful niche since moving to Newmarket just over 12 month ago and is attracting rides from a wide variety of trainers.

He could enjoy a bumper time this evening. Tylicki kicks-off aboard Spring Dixie (5.20), an unraced juvenile trained by the shrewd Rae Guest, who may not need to be much above average to take this soft-looking maiden.

Alderley (5.50) gives Tylicki a sound chance in the second race after a good recent effort at Nottingham, Pretty Bubbles (6.20), who is nothing if not consistent, provides him with another winning opportunity in the one mile handicap.

Tylicki, who has mounts in all seven races, and who has chances in every one of them, ends the night with two of his best rides, the speedy Oasis Mirage (7.50), a winner last time out at Lingfield, and Wall Street Boss (8.20), who is overdue a winning turn after three in-the-frame efforts and who wears a first-time visor.

 

Selections

Pontefract today

2.10 Poetic Verse (NAP), 2.40 Flash Fire, 3.10 Imshivalla, 3.40 Only Orsenfoolsies, 4.10 Mister Manannan, 4.40 Shadowtime, 5.10 Centre Haafhd.

Yarmouth today

5.20 Spring Dixie, 5.50 Alderley, 6.20 Pretty Bubbles, 6.50 Uprise, 7.20 Indian Tinker, 7.50 Oasis Mirage, 8.20 Wall Street Boss.

Today's other meetings: Brighton, Kempton and Lingfield.

Tomorrow's meetings: Brighton, Haydock, Newcastle, Sandown, Southwell and Yarmouth.