There is lots of race meetings around the UK & Ireland this afternoon. Play safe as it is much too easy to get roped into playing more races than one should by the bookies.

We revert to sprint handicaps which are my favourite races on the flat. Plenty of luck and patience is requried but there is always good value and extra places on offer from the bookies.

Michael Dods runs two with Jawwaal worth backing from a low draw in stall 1. According to Turftrax the faster ground is on the far side which is where Jawwaal is drawn. He caught my eye when unplaced in a similar sprint handicap during the Dante meeting. On that occasion Jawwaal travelled best to a furlong out and then met some traffic before getting going again without suffering a hard race. Paul Mulrennan looked after him once his winning chance was gone and that ride can pay dividends today with Connor Beasley booked. The handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds to 97, only 3lbs higher than when winning at Doncaster last July, beating Nomadic Empire.

Of the rest Zargun could step forward on his second run of the current season having finished fourth behind Fine Wine during the Dante Meeting.

York – 2:55

1 point each way Jawwaal 6/1 Bet365 5 places else 11/2 Paddy Power/Betfair SB, both 5 places.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/york/14:55/winner