Not too many horses on the Flat would relish the prospect of having to race over two miles and five furlongs around the undulating circuit of Pontefract when there is a bit of cut in the ground.

One notable exception is Brian Ellison's Great As Gold, who seems to go particularly well over two miles plus at this course and is fancied to land the Pontefract Marathon Handicap over that extended two miles and five at the West Yorkshire course this afternoon.

The winner of this race in 2004, the gelding has shown himself to be in good heart with a recent win over fences and a win over two miles and one furlong at this course when returned to the Flat last time.

Conditions were very testing on that occasion and he showed the right qualities to beat useful hurdler Turtle Soup by three and a half lengths.

Conditions aren't anywhere near as quick this time but the extra yardage will make it an ideal test of stamina.

The Fryston Handicap over six furlongs is all about speed and David Nicholls' Machinist is the interesting one after a promising reappearance run on the new Polytrack surface at Kempton.

Last year's Ayr Silver Cup winner was anything but disgraced, having raced on the wide outside throughout and it's worth bearing in mind that he has won on his second start after a break in two of his seasons racing.

With Mr Wolf and a couple of others that like to race up with the pace, the gelding will get the race run to suit from his middle draw and he's taken to get the better of Roger Charlton's Exmoor.

Mark Johnston's team is starting to get into gear and Marmota, who won on his debut at Wolverhampton, is fancied to follow up in the Cornmarket Handicap over a mile and a half.

Despite his apparent greenness that day, he still had too much in hand for some more experienced rivals and, although this represents a tougher task on this handicap debut, he is capable of a good deal better.

At Hexham's jumping fixture Coy Lad appeals as a likely sort in the GG Media Novices Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong.

Pauline Robson's runner has room for improvement in the jumping department, but suggested at Carlisle when just touched off last time that the step up to this trip would be in his favour and he is sure to go well with a clear round in an ordinary event.

Peter Niven's Panmure, the mount of Tony Dobbin, has plenty in his favour and is preferred to Contract Scotland in the opening Living North Handicap Chase over the extended two and a half miles.

Over the sticks at Taunton, it looks significant that Martin Todhunter sends Benrajah on the long trip from Cumbria and the nine-year-old will be suited by the conditions and the tight course in the Setsquare Recruitment Handicap Chase over three miles.

Although all his wins have been on left-handed courses, the gelding ran well enough at right-handed Ludlow this season to suggest that he should have no problems going this way around.

Back on the Flat at Windsor Roger Charlton's Acrobatic can follow up his recent comfortable maiden win at Bath by taking the attheraces.com Handicap over the extended mile.

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