Gig Harbor, who looks very well treated on turf compared with the all-weather, is an interesting runner in the totescoop6 Handicap over a mile and one furlong at Ripon this afternoon.

Patrick Chamings' gelding, who ran well over this trip on a sound surface last summer at Kempton, turned in a string of useful efforts in middle-distance Polytrack handicaps this winter.

Although he had a stiff task in the Listed Winter Derby, won by prolific scorer and recent Epsom winner Eccentric, when last seen in March, he takes the eye with conditions to suit from this much lower turf rating.

Nevada Desert, who shaped well at Hamilton this week, is fancied to overcome the widest draw in the toteplacepot Handicap over a mile.

Richard Whitaker's five-year-old looked in good nick in the paddock that day and, after staying on well in the closing stages to finish fourth to Dark Charm, is fancied to reverse placings with the winner on these better terms.

Northern trainers have runners all over the country and Ian Semple can land the Paddypowercasino.com Handicap over seven furlongs at Sandown with the useful Appalachian Trail.

Although relatively slow to come to hand this spring, he showed his turn was close when just touched off by the smart Vortex at Newmarket last time and the booking of Jamie Spencer looks a good one.

Feed The Meter has progressed well over a mile-and-a-half but makes more appeal now upped to a mile-and-six-furlongs in the CBFM Handicap.

Mick Ryan's mare ran well from this mark at Doncaster last time when third to Flotta but the way she stuck to her task in the closing stages means her winning run may not yet be at an end.

John Gosden's Cashier won a race that worked out well at Thirsk and is fancied to go close on his handicap debut in the Royal Bank Of Scotland Handicap over a mile and one furlong.

Tim Easterby has really found some form in the last few weeks and his Mimi Mouse is the one to be on in the Leicester Mercury Handicap over five furlongs at Leicester's evening meeting.

Five furlongs and fast ground are her requirements and she ran a career-best effort (had a couple of these behind) when successful at Thirsk last time.

A rise in the weights should not be enough to prevent a follow-up.

Firenze shaped well after a lengthy break at Haydock recently and this well-bred sort is fancied to get off the mark for the year in the Mercury Race Night Fillies' Handicap over six furlongs.

Over the sticks at Hexham, Micky Hammond's Karo de Vindecy makes plenty of appeal in the Lords Taveners Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half miles.

The gelding ran really well over this course and distance when second to Panmure and looks a bit better than the bare form suggests as he failed to settle for much of the trip.

He has conditions to suit and is sure to go well.

* Hopes that racing on Channel 4 will continue to feature next year remain alive following further ''productive'' talks yesterday.

The broadcaster has now set what it describes as a ''final deadline'' of next Wednesday for a sponsorship package to secure the coverage.

A statement from Channel 4 said: ''Channel 4 has set a final deadline of next Wednesday to negotiate a sponsorship package that will ensure its horseracing coverage continues beyond the end of 2005.

''This is in view of the productive nature of today's talks with the Tote and the racecourses.''

The broadcaster is threatening to end its 21-year association with the sport, claiming it is losing money through racing coverage.

Requests for an £8m subsidy from racing and betting interests were unanimously rejected.

That figure is believed to have come down after Channel 4 extended its original May 31 deadline to allow further meetings to take place.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.