MY NAME IS RIO is expected to give a good account of himself in the Riu Palace Meloneras Handicap at Pontefract.

A previous winner over the course and distance, the Michael Dods-trained sprinter ran a perfectly respectable race on his first start of the campaign at Doncaster a fortnight ago.

Making his first appearance since October, the six-year-old travelled with plenty of verve before his effort flattened out inside the last of six furlongs, but he was not beaten far in fourth place.

He should be a good bit sharper with that run under his belt and the prospect of soft ground is not a major concern.

My Name Is Rio has won off a higher mark than his current perch of 87 and with Dods having been among the winners this month, everything points to a solid showing as today's nap selection under Paul Mulrennan.

DUSKER can provide Mark Johnston with yet another juvenile winner in the opening Douglas Barraclough 80th Birthday Novice Stakes.

The Middleham maestro appears to have a formidable crop of two-year-olds for 2016 and Dusker made an encouraging start to his career when fourth over five furlongs at Kempton at the start of the month.

Normal progress will make the American-bred colt tough to beat in West Yorkshire with William Buick on board, provided he handles the testing terrain.

TUSCAN GOLD is worth a small interest in the Pontefract Marathon Handicap.

Micky Hammond's charge is a regular runner over the course and distance and ran his best race for a while when runner-up to Almost Gemini a couple of weeks ago.

He was perhaps unfortunate to bump into a well-handicapped opponent on that occasion and this looks a good opportunity for him to go one better.

BAADI can get off the mark at the fourth attempt in the Call Star Sports On 0800 521 321 Maiden Stakes at Windsor this evening.

Following a decent debut effort at this track a year ago, the Dansili gelding raised his game to fill the runner-up spot at Nottingham before confirming that performance was no flash in the pan when again only finding one too strong at Ripon.

Argus, the winner at Ripon, went on to enjoy a successful campaign to give the form some weight, yet Baadi has not been seen since.

His fitness has to be taken on trust on his first start in 10 months – but if he does run up to his mark of 82, he will not be far away. Andrea Atzeni has the ride.

EPSOM DAY, ridden by Tom Queally, could give us a good run for our money in the Browns & All Bar One Windsor Handicap.

The three-year-old bolted up in a Lingfield maiden in early January but was a shade disappointing back in handicap company at the same track the following month.

He is given the chance to bounce back on what is only his second start on the grass, with trainer John Gosden's string in sensational form.

VERY FIRST TIME looked pretty smart on his hurdling debut at Newcastle and can follow up under a penalty in the opening Welcome To Hexham "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle at the Northumberland circuit.

MEME'S HORSE rates the best bet at Newton Abbot in the opening SIS Maiden Hurdle, while Huntingdon punters should side with LAPALALA in the Racing UK Day Pass Just £10 Mares' Maiden Hurdle.