ARMED with a fantastic book of rides, Jamie Spencer should not leave today's meeting at Pontefract empty-handed.

The reigning champion jockey gets his initial chance to shine aboard Up Tempo (2.50), fit and very much fancied after being in excellent heart on the all-weather circuit during the past few weeks.

The switch back to turf shouldn't hinder Kevin Ryan's sprinter, especially as he's got proven form on the prevailing ground, plus the benefit of an advantageous high draw.

Spencer could additionally be in business aboard Turtle Soup (3.20), who is going to take all the beating in the two-and-a-quarter-mile Jamaican Flight Handicap.

Rated a whopping 143 over hurdles, Turtle Soup is a class act over timber.

In the debit column he's not getting any younger at ten-years of age, but the poor standard of the opposition more than makes up for that particular negative.

The best prize of the day will belong to the winner of the £18,000 Pontefract Park Handicap, which is jam-packed with some fair milers.

Blue Spinnaker and Nero's Return both ran without distinction in the Lincoln at Redcar.

The former is better served by fast ground, while Nero's Return is such a monkey he could easily rebound and win it for the second year in a row.

All in all from a punting perspective it's strictly "no bet" as far as I'm concerned, although if a gun were put to my head then the one for my money would be Thunderwing (3.20).

Middleham handler Karl Burke had a good word for Thunderwing in our recently published Racing North pullout, first hand advice that would be churlish to ignore since it came straight from the trainer's mouth.

Mark Johnston generally nabs at least one winner at this fixture, which gives rise to the possibility of success for Raslan in the opener.

Raslan (2.20) left Godolphin in the close season and has come on in leaps and bounds since moving north, a point underlined by his promising Lingfield second to Lightning Strike on his inaugural run for Mark.

Team Johnston might well double up in the night cap with McEldowney, who doesn't look too harshly treated for the closing Apprentices Handicap.

McEldowney (5.20) landed a sparkling quick-fire hat-trick in August 2005, each time showing bags of courage when under the cosh at the business end of affairs.

Warwick raiders Precious Mystery (4.10) and Count Boris (4.40) both bid to win their respective races for the second year in succession.

Precious Mystery, third in what was a competitive hurdles contest at Exeter in February, clearly goes well in the spring and rates a solid each-way wager for the Weatherby's Insurance Handicap.

Neither has Count Boris been disgraced over the sticks, so his participation off a 3lb lower mark than when scoring 12 months ago must be of serious interest for the Racing UK Handicap.

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