A TOP-notch card at Pontefract is highlighted by the Weatherbys GSB Pipalong Stakes, where ALFAJER is fancied for top honours.

The mile Listed contest looks trappy enough but there are enough reasons to think Marco Botti's filly will give a good account, with ground conditions unlikely to present a problem.

She only has one win to her name from 13 career starts but has generally kept good company, being placed eight times and bumping into some good ones along the way, even in handicaps.

Her one run to date this year saw a fine effort when third to Volunteer Point in the fillies' and mares' race on All-Weather Championship Finals Day at Lingfield in March.

Effective with cut in the ground or on a faster surface, she comes into this fresher than most and might still have a bit more to offer, hence today's nap selection with Andrea Atzeni on board.

PERSONAL TOUCH, ridden by Andrew Mullen, can reward each-way backers in the King Richard III Handicap.

The Pivotal gelding joined the progressive yard of Mick Appleby in April and his latest start strongly suggested his turn is near, finishing strongly over six furlongs at Doncaster to be third, beaten a neck and the same.

While his winning has been done almost exclusively at seven furlongs, the stiff Pontefract finish should be in his favour and he is nicely handicapped at the moment off a mark of 78.

TRAINNAH can make it third time lucky in the Solutions 4 Cleaning Maiden Stakes under Frankie Dettori.

Unraced at two, the William Haggas-trained filly cost 200,000 guineas at the sales and owners Al Shaqab Racing will be desperate to get a win out of the filly, another of Pivotal's offspring.

But it is far from panic stations just yet, as her two runs to date have offered much promise.

First time up at Nottingham she looked in need of the experience when slowly away but coming home nicely behind Snow Moon, who is a useful filly in her own right and has taken in Listed company since.

A step up in trip beckoned after that at Salisbury and while favourite-backers lost their money, time could show the winner Playful Sound is very good.

For her part, Trainnah was again not the quickest into stride before very nearly grabbing second.

If the penny has finally dropped, she really should be very hard to beat in a race of this nature against some exposed types, with Godolphin newcomer Different Journey the only unknown quantity.

AVALANCHE EXPRESS has a race in him and the Neal Wood Seventh Anniversary Memorial Handicap at Wolverhampton fits the bill.

William Muir's four-year-old made a reasonable return at Southwell in March on his first start for 215 days and came forward nicely from that when a staying-on third at Kempton.

His time off the track came following a run at Goodwood in August, where he had been favourite for a handicap off 74. He runs here from 3lb lower than that under Martin Dwyer and clearly has some ability.

NIGEL enjoyed a confidence-boosting success at Brighton last month and returns to the seaside with Shane Kelly up top looking to double up in the ROC Solutions – Official Electrical & Security Partner Handicap.

Making all, the Richard Hughes-trained four-year-old was shedding his maiden tag at the 10th attempt, taking full advantage of an easy lead in what wasn't the greatest of races.

That came over 10 furlongs – but he stays further than that so this extra couple of furlongs is not a worry and it is worth noting things did not go entirely to plan on his first two tries for the yard.