Three key questions across the day's meetings

Will the cheekpieces help Camacho Chief?

Camacho Chief's last two runs have been pretty respectable. He was third in a class 2 nursery at Hamilton and then fifth of 29 in a valuable sales race the Curragh. Whatever has he done to earn the fitting of cheekpieces ahead of this return to calmer waters in Pontefract's 2.25?

Trainer Michael Dods said: "I think he might be just a bit lazy, that's why I've put the cheekpieces on him. He's had a long enough season and this will be his last run, but he ran very well in Ireland so hopefully there's one more good performance in him for the year."

It can be said with a fair degree of certainty that Camacho Chief faces an easier task here, though four of his five rivals are making their handicap debut.

Will the real Global Applause put in an appearance?

The Ed Dunlop-trained Global Applause was one of the sharpest two-year-olds around in the early months of last season. He beat Mehmas in a Listed race and went off favourite for the Norfolk and Molecomb but progress thereafter was slow.

This year has been even more of a struggle. He made his reappearance only in August at Doncaster and has had another two months off since. A return to his best, let alone what he promised beyond what he's shown, would make him a standout candidate for the 7f conditions stakes at Salisbury (4.05).

Has Manchego matured?

The Hugo Palmer-trained Manchego made a bright start to his career, winning at Wolverhampton in April on his second start, but his two runs in soft-ground handicaps have been lamentable. He beat just one of 21 rivals.

Off since July, he returns in Windsor's 4.45, on what is projected to be less-testing ground and at a similar trip to what he won over at Wolverhampton. Having James Doyle up does no harm, either.

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