HELM BANK'S recent return to the winners' enclosure spells big trouble for his rivals in Sandown's £100,000 totescoop6 Stakes, one of the richest one-mile handicaps on the calendar.

The former 2002 Royal Ascot Chesham Stakes scorer appeared to have a glittering career ahead of him but that was before he suffered a dramatic loss of form which finally resulted in departure from Mark Johnston's stable to join Gerard Butler's team in the heart of Oxfordshire.

Whatever was ailing Helm Bank Butler appears to have worked the oracle seeing as Gerard's new inmate stormed back to something like his best by defeating Another Bottle in convincing fashion at Newcastle.

Provided the selection maintains his revival, the official ratings suggest he's still relatively well-weighted and on a track which seems certain to suit his hold-up run-style, might easily bag the most valuable prize of his career.

In the curtain-raiser to a superb afternoon of racing at the Esher venue, North Yorkshire hopeful Celtic Mill (2.05) is expected to make a bold bid to win the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Sprint Stakes.

Two starts ago Celtic Mill picked up the Group 2 Temple Stakes over course and distance, a victory marred only by the knowledge that he'd have to shoulder a 6lb penalty in all future races.

"I think the penalty will make life much harder but if he is ever going to succeed it will be with the help of the plum draw (8) he's got," said Scorton-based handler David Barker.

Haydock's Old Newton Cup has attracted a maximum field of 17 including Camrose (2.50), who has been brought to the boil very slowly by an undisputed master of his craft, John Dunlop.

Although Dunlop is short of Classic-winning ammo this term he has bundles of cracking middle-distance handicappers with which to get a line on Camrose's precise level of ability.

Using this train of thought, combined with the observation that the four-year-old is John's sole chosen representative for the £75,000 contest, it's pretty safe to assume backers are going to get a good run for their money.

The proof of the pudding is of course in the eating and the anticipated top-notch performance from this quarter stems from Camrose's latest fourth-placing behind Crow Wood in a similarly white-hot affair at the Derby meeting.

The third-home in that day, Sergeant Cecil, went on to land last Saturday's Northumberland Plate, confirmation Dunlop has his charged primed to peak perfection for today's mile-and-half-encounter.

The well-named Skidrow (4.10) is exactly where his supporters have ended up this season after posting three ducks.

But even though punters have thus far failed to collect with Skidrow, Hayley Turner's partner ran with much more promise when, despite starting as a 100-1 rag, he still managed a meritorious fifth in the Britannia Handicap.

In terms of sheer competitiveness Beverley is a far cry from Royal Ascot at York, where this year's Britannia took place. The clear drop in class will surely help Skidrow who, with the assistance of Hayley's handy 3lb apprentices' claim, is a leading light for the BP Saltend Handicap.

* David Junior gave a taste of what is hopefully to come as he proved the star act on the opening day of Sandown's Coral-Eclipse meeting yesterday.

The Brian Meehan-trained colt streaked away from his rivals in the Fink Gala Stakes.

Sweeping into the lead a furlong out, Meehan's charge quickly put daylight between himself and his five rivals as he galloped well clear.

The 5-4 favourite, ridden by Richard Hills, won by five lengths from the Queen's Forward Move, the only other three-year-old in the Listed contest.

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