/ Editor / 04 June 2007 /

Steel Blue seems sure to give his backers a good run for their money in Ripon's 6f Nick Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap (15.30).

Richard Whitaker's former course and distance winner needs to reverse a recent defeat at the hands of My Gacho (1st) and Lake Chini (3rd), who finished just inches ahead of Steel Blue (4th) when the trio were involved in a thrilling four-way photo-finish at Thirsk last time out.

Steel Blue was ridden by Paul Mulrennan that day, however Michael Stainton now takes over in the saddle and is able to utilize his 5lbs allowance, which should be sufficient to enable the gelding to gain his revenge.

By contrast Lake Chini is only 1lb better off with My Gacho, but the former is similarly 5lbs worse off with Steel Blue if you take Stainton's claim fully into account. As the three are so closely matched, sit-on-the-fence players may wish to see which one the market gets behind prior to making their respective investments.

Desert Lord won the race with tremendous authority 12 months ago off a mark of 89, but never looked like building on that blistering performance. For whatever reason, the wheels appear to have totally dropped off Kevin Ryan's runner, and in view of six straight heavy defeats, is best watched unless early trades speak in his favour.

Top-weight Charles Darwin is back down to the sort of rating which saw him win at Ascot in July 2006. He's a useful sprinter, nonetheless faces a difficult task trying to concede weight to all eight of his rivals and will be opposed by many for that reason alone.

One career victory from 18 starts is not too encouraging for Gallery Girl's prospects, but she gave a good account when runner-up over course and distance on her 2007 reappearance, a fair effort that will give her connections definite hope.

Trainer Tim Easterby also fields Countdown, an admirably consistent gelding who is a very risky place lay having made the frame on 14 of his 25 lifetime outings.

Trojan Flight, raised 6lbs for his Class 5 success at Thirsk last month, is now being upped significantly in grade and needs to improve if he is to follow-up.

Cove not one to give layers any shelter

Godolphin's progressive Calabash Cove could easily prove a cut above the opposition in Ripon's 1m2f Weatherby Bank Handicap at 16.00.

Frankie Dettori's mount didn't disappoint favourite backers when obliging in a well-contested maiden at Lingfield (1m2f) in early May. The beautifully-bred son of Rahy, who possesses plenty of scope for further improvement, might easily have the class to shrug off top-weight en route to better things.

Having been hit with a 7lbs hike for his 1m Leicester success, Tetouan, couldn't live with the turbo-charged turn of foot shown by Padlocked at Lingfield (1m1f) a fortnight ago. Bumped up another 3lbs for that run, the handicapper has been merciless and although Roger Charlton's colt is clearly useful, some layers will take the view he's already too high in the ratings.

Mark Johnston's three-year-olds have been in sublime form all season, regularly rewarding win and place players who have simply bet "blind" on his horses. Plane Painter was a classic example because being the lesser fancied of Johnston's pair at Redcar (1m2f) last Tuesday, he still nabbed third spot with a gutsy effort. Seemingly coming to hand, the son of Orpen represents a hugely risky lay given the stable's admirable 20% win strike-rate.

The form of Ideally's 7f second to Shmookh at Warwick received a monster booster when the latter went on to land a valuable and competitive York Handicap. Barry Hills must think his gelding will respond in kind over this much longer trip, a theory which if backed up by positive trades, should point to a big run from the Lambourn raider.

Although only beaten around three lengths when eighth at Salisbury (1m2f), it didn't look a very strong race and Sam Lord probably needs to drop a few pounds if he's to trouble the judge.

One-paced Nota Liberata is becoming very frustrating, but he still looks far superior to Colditz, who has been beaten out of sight on each of his last two starts.

Pawan to pounce at Southwell?

Capturing Southwell's 7f Ladies Day Handicap (20.40) shouldn't be beyond the powers of Pawan, who shaped as if his turn was once again near when runner-up at Brighton (6f) last week.

Ann Stokell both trains and rides the durable seven-year-old, who has run an incredible 98 races, of which he's won six, including over course and distance in 2005 off a mark of 70. Pawan has since scored at on turf at Beverley, but the fibre sand seems to be his preferred surface these days and the return to this longer trip should also help.

Rosein has been racked up to a career high mark of 79 for finishing second to Rod Millman's hot-pot, Whitbarrow, at the course (6f) 12 days ago. The Geraldine Rees-trained five-year-old goes particularly well at the track, nonetheless plenty of investors will be adopting a lay strategy given the harshness with which he's handicapped at present.

Thus far Amorist has been a disappointing purchase for Howard Johnson, the ex-Sir Mark Prescott gelding having been twice pulled up over hurdles this winter. Successful on two occasions over 8f for the last-named trainer at this track, Amorist needs watching like a hawk in the market as if he is the subject of significant cash, he could well be poised to strike on his return to the flat.

The amazing ten-year-old, Sawwaah, notched his 14th win from 78 starts when winning by a street at Brighton on Sunday. With 12 seconds and nine thirds also to his name, he's not exactly ideal lay material despite never having won at this man-made arena.

Nigel Tinkler's decision to drop Indian's Feather in trip doesn't make total sense since the mare needed every inch of 1m to record a course and distance triumph on the last day of April. If per chance Tom Eaves can keep his mount up with the pace over the first three furlongs, an in-play investment could conceivably pay rich dividends.

Union Jack Jackson has the distinction of winning in March, April, and May of this year, a fine all-weather circuit record which means he can easily take a hand in the finish of a race low in numbers, but nonetheless, fiercely competitive.

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