Racing returns to Pontefract tomorrow - and Leanne Kershaw is back, too, bidding to win the course's five-round apprentices' series for the second successive year.

Middleham-based Kershaw, who is attached to Jedd O'Keefe's stable, won a fortnight's working holiday in the US last season, and followed that up with a trip to Trinidad, where she memorably rode a winner.

Tomorrow, she teams-up with an old friend in Noble Cyrano, trained by O'Keefe, in the opening round of the Betfair.com Apprentice Series Handicap over a mile and a half.

A previous course winner, Noble Cyrano scored for Kershaw two outings ago at Southwell, but was inconvenienced by a wide draw and an inadequate trip when finishing unplaced at Newcastle last time. A more favourable outcome is anticipated tomorrow.

Prize money of £20,000 is up for grabs in the High-Rise Classified Stakes over ten furlongs.

Richard Fahey has good prospects here with Lady Bear, who had shown a preference for soft ground in the past, but who ran really well to finish third at Ascot ten days ago on the same good-to-firm surface she will encounter tomorrow.

A reproduction of her Ascot form will make her hard to beat, and any rain in the meantime will serve only to increase Lady Bear's chances.

The Pontefract Park Handicap is a trappy and thrilling-looking event, and again Fahey looks likely to play a strong hand.

The Ryedale trainer saddles Definite Guest, the mount of Paul Hanagan, who shaped with great promise on his reappearance at Kempton last month when finishing a never-nearer fifth in a similarly competitive handicap.

That race was over seven furlongs and the step up to a mile will suit Nap selection Definite Guest, who needs to be produced late. He has the right jockey on him to carry out those daring tactics.

Barry Hills, trainer of last month's Lincoln Handicap winner Pablo, has made an encouraging start to the campaign and the Lambourn handler looks poised to make his presence felt tomorrow.

Gala Sunday, runner-up in both his outings as a juvenile, is fancied to make it third-time-lucky for Hills in the Yorkshire Racing Club Maiden Stakes, while the likewise promising Muwajaha can provide her trainer with a double in the Spring Three-Year-Old Maiden Stakes.

Stamina will be at a premium in the pontefract-races. co.uk Handicap over an extended two miles.

Broughton Zest has yet to win over this distance, but has been in cracking form and gives every impression that she has the necessary staying power. John Best's four-year-old should take plenty of beating.

Over the sticks at Sedgefield, make a note of sprightly teenager Jonaem, a recent course winner, in the John Wade Skip Hire Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Tuesday's tips:

Pontefract

2.15 Noble Cyrano, 2.45 Bodfari Pride, 3.15 Definite Guest (Nap), 3.45 Gala Sunday, 4.15 Lady Bear, 4.45 Broughton Zest, 5.15 Muwajaha.

Sedgefield

2.25 Prince Highlight, 2.55 Transit, 3.25 Jonaem, 3.55 Mumaris, 4.25 Balisteros, 4.55 Inch Perfect.

- Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was: Noshinannikin (4.05 at Kelso).

- Tomorrow's other meeting is at Exeter.

Updated: 12:13 Monday, April 07, 2003