/ Editor / 29 June 2007 /

Middleham handler George Moore stunned punters 12 months ago when outsider Toldo landed the Northumberland Plate, but it is far from impossible that the diminutive trainer could strike again with Macorville in Saturday's renewal (Newcastle 15:20).

The key to Macorville's chance is the ground. On good or even good to soft ground, Macorville is just an average staying handicapper, but when the going comes up really testing he comes into his own, as his stamina and love for the mud turn him into a very effective performer.

Severe weather is forecast for the 24 hours leading up to the race and there is every chance that the ground might come up heavy, in which case Macorville could prove to be a very solid bet in the place market and worth at least a speculative interest in the win market. In recent starts he has hinted at his wellbeing and the trip and anticipated conditions should prove ideal.

Nosferatu has been a persistent whisper for this race ever since his win at Epsom on Derby Day, but that was over 12 furlongs and the extra half mile and a wide draw make him worthy of opposing in the win market, in a race where proven ability to stay is essential.

Greenwich Meantime has been raised 6lbs for his win in the Chester Cup (Odiham and Dr Sharp behind) but although respected, his chance will be seriously hampered by any further easing of the ground. He has been campaigned on decent going most of his life and could easily be opposed in both win and place markets on soft ground.

Juniper Girl ran a blinder when second in the Ascot Stakes and will be even better suited by cut underfoot, having shown a definite liking for testing conditions in the past. Normally held up in her races, the filly might be available at tasty odds in play before making her move late on in the day.

Al Eile is another that handles heavy ground and this high class hurdler could well attract plenty of money from Ireland on his first start since winning the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle in April. Market confidence for John Queally's charge could be a signal to step in and support him on his first flat start since finishing third at Royal Ascot at York in 2005.

Sentry Duty is saddled with top weight but revels in testing ground and Nicky Henderson has a fine record in big staying handicaps. He looks sure to run well and should reward backers in the place market and will give those supporting him a fine run for their money.

Tilt and Mustajed look very doubtful stayers and may well be attractive lays in the place market.

Mike looks set to land the beer money
Progressive three-year-old Hoh Mike is pitched in against older horses for the first time in his career and looks worth a second glance in the Newcastle Brown Ale 80th Birthday Chipchase Stakes (14:10).

Michael Bell's Intikhab colt comfortably landed a Sandown listed event last time and with a proven record on easy ground, can prove equally effective over this extra furlong with Jamie Spencer on board. He may well attract plenty of interest in the in-play market as his 'hold up' style lends itself to fancy prices being offered during the early stages of the contest.

Nothing comes into the race in better form than Sierra Vista, who seeks a four-timer after impressive recent victories including last time out in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown. Whilst David Barker's mare handles soft ground, over six furlongs it is debatable whether she is as effective as five and as such, with her penalty taken into account, she looks worth opposing.

Misu Bond is the class act of the party but has clearly had his training problems and his fitness for this tough contest has to be taken on trust. The winner of the European Free Handicap last season before running a cracker to be fifth to George Washington in the 2000 Guineas, he has not been seen since performing poorly at Leopardstown on his only subsequent outing last July. The form of trainer Bryan Smart is as hot as there is at present however, so any positive early market signals would be well worth taking into account.

The ground will surely be against Rising Shadow who floundered in the soft at Ascot last week, whilst the handicapper looks to have taken the measure of Fonthill Road and he looks below the required standard for a pattern event such as this. Both may well be opposed by layers in the win and place markets.

Irish challenger Confuchias is well worth a second glance with his proven ability to run well in testing conditions. He was far from disgraced behind Cockney Rebel in the Irish 2000 Guineas last time out and the drop back to sprinting should be very much to his liking. He looks a solid call in the place market at least.

Dramatic set for four-timer?
Sir Mark Prescott sets punters a poser once again as his progressive Dramatic attempts to defy another rise in the weights in Wolverhampton's opening race of the evening, the Steve Baddeley's Stag Night Handicap (19:00).

The Pivotal colt started his winning run when landing a course and distance handicap off a mark of 52 four weeks ago, and his since rattled up a hat-trick in fine style. Now racing off a 24lb higher rating than at the beginning of the month, there will be many layers prepared to believe that the handicapper might be getting to grips with the three-year-old. But on the evidence of his latest comfortable win at Yarmouth, there could be yet more improvement to come.

On balance, taking into account Sir Mark's tremendous record for running up sequences with his handicappers, it may be a brave layer that opposes Dramatic, a horse who clearly started the campaign on a favourable rating.

The handicapper looks to have got his claws into Rosein, a mare who reserves her best performances for this track. She was disappointing though last time when sent off favourite at Southwell, but probably failed to see out the seventh furlong and may pose the biggest danger to the likely favourite, given the return to her optimum conditions. She looks a solid back in the place market.

Cool Sands is a tough and reliable all-weather handicapper, who comes into the race in decent nick and looks sure to give his running once again. The 3lb allowance of apprentice Duran Fentiman should help the cause and he is another who may attract the interest of backers in the place market at least.

Matuza has gone up in the weights and was a disappointment at Windsor recently. William Muir's colt may be better suited by a return to this surface but unless there is significant market interest, looks one to oppose in both the win and place markets.
Canadian Danehill is one for in-play backers to monitor closely.

On a going day he is fairly useful and travels sweetly in his races tracking the pace, so if noted moving strongly at the turn could be one for backers to support as he normally sees out his race well.

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