OVERNIGHT rain threatens Ayr's fixture, but if the course survives a 6.45am inspection mud-loving Man Murphy (2.40) will be in his element.

Trained at Eastwideopen Farm, near Newcastle, by Billy McKeown, Man Murphy is gradually coming to the boil, having finished third, and runner-up, on his two outings to date this season.

He's quite a stuffy individual, so the net effect of those two racecourse spins should have put him spot-on for the £12,000 Westsound Burns Supper Handicap Chase.

Also crucial to his prospects is the state of the ground, because according to all past evidence, Man Murphy is at his best when his hooves are allowed to scythe through the grass and deep into the soil below.

Another with a serious predisposition for a testing surface is Moon Mist (1.10), fancied to end a long series of placed runs by getting his head in front for the Rocksteady Anniversary Novices Handicap Chase.

Although Moon Mist acquitted himself well enough when third over course and distance just six days ago, that was an event where he was taking on far more experienced rivals compared to this race, in which he has only novices to contend with.

The booking of Irish ace Richard Hughes for Coranglais (3.20) at Lingfield can only be regarded as a major plus from a purely punting point of view.

If any jockey has earned the right to conduct master classes on how to ride the all-weather then it is Hughes.

He appreciates the subtle nuances of pace judgement required to execute winning tactics on the man-made tracks.

Coranglais began 2004 off a mark in the high 70's, then tumbled down the weights as a result of wretched sequence, only to break the chain with a welcome 15-2 win in a Classified Stakes at Bath in mid-July.

Milton Bradley's sprinter showed he acts on the polytrack when just beaten by Ligne d'Eau in nip-and-tuck duel at Wolverhampton in December.

Since then the five-year-old finished out of the money over course and distance, but there was at least a valid excuse as he was trapped wide of the field for much of the race.

Hughes shouldn't experience similar traffic difficulties from his advantageous low draw in stall three, and given the strength of the opposition is no great shakes for the Bet Direct AW Jockeys Championship, Coranglais might well get back on the winning trail in the £4,000 contest.

Only inches separated Hammer Of The Gods (3.50) and Willieconquertoo when the pair locked horns at the course just over a fortnight ago.

Admittedly the latter marginally got the better of the argument, but now that strong-arm Neil Callan is re-united with Hammer Of The Gods, sweet revenge is very much on the cards.

Julian Poulton's lightning fast speedster ideally needs to let it rip from the front, a ploy that wasn't utilised when partnered by a 7lb claiming apprentice rider last time out. Callan on the other hand, loves nothing more than to grab hold of his mount and push and shove and kick from the moment the stalls fly open, a race-plan which suits Hammer Of The Gods to perfection.

The nap vote goes to Wolverhampton-bound Bold Wolf (3.00), who has been unsuccessfully toiling away over six furlongs. Trainer John Spearing seems to have finally cottoned on to the fact that Bold Wolf is well worth a try at the minimum trip, a theory with which I fully concur.

* Jim Culloty fell foul of the Exeter stewards yesterday, picking up a four-day suspension for misusing his whip.

Culloty was penalised for his ride on the third-placed Eva So Charming in the Hatch Marquee Hire Novices Chase.

He will be out of action on January 14, 15, 17 and 18.

* Rodi Greene hopes to return from nearly five months on the sidelines at Taunton on Monday.

The jockey has been out of action since August 10, when he dislocated his shoulder riding Lost In Normandy at Newton Abbot.

Greene, who is attached to the Martin Pipe yard, is due to see the Jockey Club's medical adviser Dr Michael Turner on Friday, when he believes he will get the all-clear.

''I am hoping to be back next Monday. I have got to go and see Dr Turner on Friday and hopefully then I will be back in business,'' he told At The Races.

''It's been a long time coming but I'm looking forward to getting back. I've been riding out and it's all falling into place at long last.

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