Trainer Ann Duffield, eager to put a disappointing 2008 campaign behind her, has good prospects of landing the feature race at Pontefract tomorrow.

Based at Constable Burton, near Middleham, Duffield, wife of former top jockey George who now works as her assistant, saddles Just Lille in the £15,000 Ladbrokes Fillies’ Handicap.

A good servant to the North Yorkshire yard, Just Lille is the winner of seven races. Her latest comeback effort suggests she can add to that tally this season.

Two weeks ago she ran in the Silver Bowl at Ripon and finished a highly creditable third to Halicarnassus. Back into handicap company tomorrow, Just Lille should make a bold bid.

Tim Easterby can get proceedings off to a favourable start, courtesy of Gentle Beat in the Northern Racing College Maiden Stakes. The son of Whipper ran a decent first race at Thirsk to finish third and is open to improvement with that outing under his belt.

The promising Cherish The Moment, trained by the in-form Barry Hills, should take all the beating in the totesport.com Maiden Stakes, while This Ones For Eddy, enterprisingly ridden to score here last week, will again have the services of Paddy Donaghy as he bids to defy a penalty in the skybet.com Handicap.

Paul Midgley’s Dispol Diva is nothing if not game. She made up for a narrow and slightly luckless defeat at Catterick with a victory at Beverley two weeks ago. She should run well under Phillip Makin in the Coralbet Handicap.

The best of tomorrow’s action comes from Ascot where Red Jazz is napped to lift the opening Alan Merritt Memorial Conditions Stakes.

Trained by Barry Hills, this speedy juvenile created an excellent impression on his debut at Windsor three weeks ago, scooting home by five lengths in impressive fashion. He looks to have the potential of a Royal Ascot juvenile and he can confirm that promise tomorrow.

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston has every chance of landing the Paradise Stakes, worth £40,000, with Laa Rayb.

Royston Ffrench’s mount won a big handicap on this course last July and followed up in a Group 3 race in France. It would come as no surprise to see Laa Rayb beginning the current campaign on a winning note.

Henry Cecil complicates matters for punters in the X Factor Stakes by saddling both Honest Quality and Apple Charlotte. Minor preference is for Honest Quality, the mount of stable-jockey Tom Queally, and twice a winner as a juvenile.

Five Star Junior, who has made huge strides for Norton trainer Linda Stubbs on the all-weather, can make his presence felt in the £40,000 Pavillion Stakes, provided he can now transfer his best form to turf.

Racing selections

Pontefract
2.20 Gentle Beat, 2.55 Cherish The Moment, 3.30 This Ones For Eddy, 4.05 Just Lille, 4.40 Dispol Diva, 5.15 Neon Blue.

Ascot
2.10 Red Jazz (NAP), 2.45 Honest Quality, 3.20 Laa Rayb, 3.55 Patkai, 4.30 Five Star Junior, 5.05 Priti Fabulous.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Kelso, Kempton, Southwell.

Today’s meetings:
Bath, Lingfield, Nottingham, Sedgefield, Wincanton.