/ Editor / 03 July 2007 /

Star apprentice William Buick, who gave Sendinpost a peach of a ride when winning at Kempton last week, bids to mete out more of the same over course and distance in the 2m Handicap at 20.20.

Trainer Stuart Williams is a dab hand at getting his horses to the right end of the handicap, something he's achieved with Sendinpost, who looks capable of defying his 6lbs penalty judged by the way Buick steered him to victory with plenty of petrol left in the tank.

Another in-form stayer, Megaton, should be to the fore having made a successful switch from hurdles to the flat when scoring at Nottingham (1m6f) in June. Frankie Dettori once again takes the mount, which should ensure maximum assistance from the saddle, however some layers will take the view that the step up from a class 5 to class 3 race will be a bridge too far for the combination.

Whispering Death is going the other way in grade having last run in the hugely valuable and competitive Chester Cup. Nothing went right for the Willie Haggas'-trained charge on that occasion when after a tardy exit from the gates, he was well behind until making significant late headway to finish in sixth spot. Chester's tight turns were clearly the undoing of Whispering Death, problems he'll not face on this far fairer track making the five-year-old a potential major market mover.

Haggas has also entered Simondiun, who is not without a chance provided the gelding can reproduce the pick of his 2006 form for Amanda Perratt when runner-up in a decent staying event at Nottingham (1m6f). The fact that William is reaching for the first-time visor on only Simondiun's second start for the stable is worrying, although the booking of Jamie Spencer must be regarded as a plus point.

Salute seemingly has an impossible task off a 14lbs higher mark than when victorious over track and trip in December 2006, while the near-veteran, High Point, another regular at this venue, is always likely to be vulnerable to arguably better-handicapped and more especially, younger rivals.

Top-weight no barrier to Wavertree Warrior

Investors shouldn't necessarily shy away from supporting Wavertree Warrior despite the five-year-old having to shoulder top-weight in Catterick's 7f Handicap at 15.35.

Neil Callan's mount has been running with plenty of credit in higher grade events of late, notably when 6th of 11 in a class 2 race at Sandown (7f) last time out. There's no crabbing the form of that contest since the second-home, Binanti, went on the collect at Royal Ascot on his very next start. The handicapper has also seen fit to ease Wavertree Warrior a couple of pounds in the ratings, an act of largesse which might well lure win and place backers into the fray.

Season-after-season Sir Mark Prescott's stable rack up an impressive strike-rate, so Secret Liason must warrant maximum respect. This race, however, looks just as tough as the one he scrambled home in at Kempton (7f) recently, therefore the fact he's up 6lbs could curtail Secret Liason's ambitions of a follow-up success.

Amy Louise, who came with a withering late charge claim a fillies' Thirsk (1m) handicap, won't necessarily be suited by this drop back in distance. She appeared to need every yard of the trip that day, which combined with having to defy a career high rating of 81, may make David Barron's representative more popular with those inclined to take her on.

When Countdown beat King Harson over course and distance in 2006, the former received 3lbs and won by 2 lengths. At the revised weights there shouldn't be much between the pair, and neither can be totally discounted at a venue where both have excelled in the past.

A big heart is an essential piece of kit in this game and Flying Bantam is definitely not short in the coronary department. Whether Richard Fahey's gelding has the class to prevail at this reasonably heady level is open to debate, nonetheless Flying Bantam produced a tremendously gutsy display to grind his rivals down at Beverley (7f100y) and represents risky lay material on that basis alone.

Press Express looks just the ticket

Very few with any real potential to improve line up for Catterick's 1m4f Stockton Handicap, however Press Express could prove the exception to the rule at 17.05.

Press Express looked a fair middle-distance prospect for Michael Bell in his three-year-old days, but he lost his way and has subsequently joined Richard Fahey's stable in North Yorkshire. Fahey needed to drop his new recruit into selling company in order to rekindle the gelding's enthusiasm, nevertheless his subsequent second to Charlotte Vale (winner again since) in a non-seller was much more like the real-deal.

Having twice rewarded his supporters of late, there'll be plenty of win and place backers wanting to side with Don Pasquale in the hope of again cleaning up again. Don Pasquale acts on both a fast and soft surface, so whether the ground dries up, or there's yet more rain, he won't mind underfoot conditions. The in-form five-year-old has come from well off the pace to win his last two races, therefore might be of interest to in-running players seeking better value should the gelding get himself well behind during the first 7-8 furlongs of the contest.

Easily the most prolific winner in the field is Moyne Pleasure, who boasts 14 wins (jumps and flat) from 101 starts. A previous course and distance scorer way back in 2002, his last success on the level came over three years ago at Wolverhampton and it's hard to envisage the nine-year-old breaking that long losing run.

Turn Of Phrase's 7 wins and 6 second placings might make would-be layers think twice about taking on Brian Ellison's eight-year-old to big stakes. Turn Of Phase also ran very well in defeat when chasing home Thornaby Green at Newcastle(1m2f) last Friday, a back-to-form effort which should have put him spot-on for this particular test.

Briery Blaze hails from a small but shrewd yard with a penchant for having a crack at the market, consequently if the cash arrives on cue for Kate Walton's raider, it might well be worth following.

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