Monday horse racing tips: Best bets for Pontefract and Windsor

2.15 Pontefract: Elegant Erin

She has proved something of a relevation since being dropped back to the minimum trip this season and the winning sequence might not be over yet.

Raised 6lbs by the assessor after landing the hat-trick last time, that rise didn't look especially puntive at the time given Elegant Erin beat two consistent and solid yardsticks for the grade in second and third and the form has been boosted since - runner-up King Of Tonga won at Chester at the weekend while the fifth struck next time at Nottingham.

It's generally accepted that sprinters improve with age as they physically mature and gain greater experience at what is an explosive and specialist discipline and Elegant Erin has suggested that on each start this term, looking the best she has so far over five furlongs when breaking from the stalls better and winning with something in hand last time despite challenging widest of all. She's won with something to spare each time this season and, if she's racing more efficiently now, her edge should last a little longer yet.

Elegant Erin won over course and distance last time and her liking for Pontefract gives further encouragement that she can add another win to her sequence. She has travelled best on both previous starts here over trips of a mile and six furlongs - with that latest effort looking a case of 'how far' before fading late after making a big move into the straight.

Elegant Erin has certainly found her metier now and has once again been well placed by trainer Paul Midgley.

3.15 Pontefract: Wagga Wagga

I wanted to try and take on Wagga Wagga here given his racing demeanour last time at Salisbury, but the more you look at this opposition the more compelling his claims look.

That's not to say Wagga Wagga can't be recommended in his own right given he has the best handicap form in this line-up - despite just one turn in such company - and this really well-bred sort looks a genuine stayer at this trip against a host of rivals who have proved weak at the finish in recent starts. He gets weight here from several of those, too.

Wagga Wagga was certainly enthusiastic last time but he just seemed more wayward and immature than anything and wasn't exactly pulling his rider's arms out. Indeed, he looked like winning when making his challenge on the outside but was beaten by a previous winner under an excellent apprentice in a close finish.

Wagga Wagga was held up in that race but the contest proved a dash for the line, with a finishing speed percentage of 108% according to the Coursetrack sectionals on this website. Essentially, he was not best placed for most of the race in a contest not run to ideally suit his fairly stout pedigree.

William Buick takes over from Georgia Dobie now while Hughie Morrison should be noted with his runners at Pontefract. Since 2010, the trainer has 10 winners from 45 runners here (32% better performance than expected by the market) but his strrike-rate is even better in handicaps, with 8 winners from 26 runners at performance 85% better than expected (1.85 A/E).

6.15 Windsor: Danzeno

The veteran has naturally been overlooked by the three-year-olds in the early market, but his ability and experience shouldn't be underestimated in this field and - even if he is somewhat vulnerable for win purposes - he's definitely worth a chance at early double-figure prices.

While disappointing on his return at Musselburgh, he was not ideally positioned there and did fare best of the runners drawn low. Additionally, he has generally taken his first run before improving on his second start of the campaign.

Starting from his first season in training all the way back in 2013, his figures on his second start read 19325331, with those figures coming in the two Wokinghams as well as Group Three and Listed contests and higher-grade handicaps. His figures on seasonal debut of 814361906 don't read quite as well by comparison, while it's fair to assume that he's more likely to appreciate a first run as he gets older.

Despite being 11 years of age, Danzeno did win three times last season - all in small fields similar to this race, even if they were conditions races - and it's certainly feasible he can make his presence felt here from a mark of 99.

Mick Appleby doesn't look in great form at a cursory glance, but the yard have been amply hitting the crossbar of late with a slew of recent seconds and this would be a welcome winner in more ways than one.