LODESTAR (3.50) looks well capable of making his class count in the John Smith's Durham National at Sedgefield.

There's guaranteed to be a huge Bank Holiday crowd to cheer on the runners for the three-and-a-half-mile marathon in which Lodestar will be partnered by reigning champion jockey, Tony McCoy.

The Ian Williams-trained eight-year-old followed up his clear-cut Kempton triumph with an even better effort in defeat when not beaten far by a useful chaser of Henry Daly's at Huntingdon.

Taking into account Lodestar's high hurdles' rating, he remains a well-handicapped individual over fences off 105, a mark that strongly suggests he has a good few pounds in hand against the majority of today's opponents.

McCoy might also be in business when he teams up with Siena Star (3.20), fancied to defy a 119-day absence by winning the Mike Blocki 60th Birthday Handicap Hurdle.

Siena Star was a quite a useful middle-distance handicapper on the level when housed at Paul Cole's yard, however to date he's been a major disappointment since switching to the jumps' arena.

His new handler, Peter Bowen, has responded by giving his charge a four-month break designed no doubt to sweeten and freshen up the selection.

Bowen's horses have been in enviably excellent fettle during the past six weeks, so it's not difficult to envisage Siena Star joining in on the stable's purple patch.

Flat fans get their slice of the action at Newcastle where Royal Melbourne (3.40) makes plenty of appeal.

Royal Melbourne was initially going like a slow coach at Catterick recently, however when asked he dug deep and produced a stunning late surge to nab Crathorne in the shadow of the post.

Although Tim Easterby's string have been slowly out of the blocks, Robinzal (3.10) looks like he has the speed to reverse the trend in the six-furlong totesport Handicap.

Robinzal might have found the frame at Ripon nine days ago but for being badly hampered about two hundred yards from the line. Given more luck in running at the Tyneside track Tim's sprinter could pop up at a decent price, especially as theoretically he has a bit to find on the book with Karl Burke's representative, Orphan.

If pedigree means anything Arazi's half-sister, Stage School (4.45), cannot be opposed in the closing one-mile Handicap.

Sheikh Mohammed's fabulously bred filly romped to an all-the-way success on her return at Catterick, a victory that signalled there might be much better things to come.

Michael Dods could have a cracking two-year-old on his hands with Doncaster-bound Penny Whisper (2.00).

Penny Whisper showed all the exuberance of youth when bounding to an easy win on her debut at Pontefract. The daughter of Orpen demonstrated a really professional attitude for one with so little experience, an invaluable asset when weighing up the pro's and cons of races in which there is so little public form to go on.

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