Machinist, who proved himself fully effective on soft ground at Ripon last time, is fancied to give a good account in the ladbrokes.com Handicap over six furlongs at Goodwood this afternoon.

David Nicholls has a good record with his sprinters at the West Sussex venue and his gelding, who has been in good heart of late, faces an easier task in this less competitive company.

He showed he could get his head in front where it matters with a fluent success at Ayr last month and ran right up to that level in defeat at York in another competitive event on his next start.

My selection lost nothing in defeat when fourth to Smokin Beau in the Great St Wilfrid a fortnight ago and that form was boosted when the winner went on to win a rated handicap from a 10lb higher mark next time.

Andrew Balding's The Player is an interesting horse and looks worth siding with in the P.P.S (Softwoods) Classified Stakes over seven furlongs, despite an absence from the track.

The lightly raced five-year-old went down as one to follow after a silky smooth Southwell win on his all-weather debut last September and, although that bare form is nothing special, the manner of the win suggested he could hold his own in better company.

He's been gelded since that win and, as his trainer was talking in terms of some of the more competitive seven furlongs handicaps with him in an interview earlier this year, he should be able to go well against these rivals.

Hezaam is a progressive sort who goes on soft ground and can notch the three timer in the Coors Fine Light Beer Handicap over a mile and a half.

John Dunlop's colt turned in a workmanlike performance when beating the reliable Yankiedoodledandy when upped to this trip for the first time at Ripon on his latest start but left the impression that a stiffer test would be ideal.

At Newmarket Stuart Williams' Sendintank, who impressed when successful at Yarmouth earlier this week, should make a bold bid to follow up in the Breheny Handicap over a mile and seven furlongs.

A most progressive sort on artificial surfaces over middle distances earlier this year, the three-year-old travelled strongly and was good value for his five length win on Tuesday and will be hard to beat, despite his penalty, even in this better grade.

The in-form Strawberry Patch, who will be well suited by this stiff uphill finish, can follow up his recent Newbury win by lifting the Air Jamaica Handicap over five furlongs.

Sendintank's participation at Newmarket means the way is clear for Master Wells to go very close in the Wiske Handicap over two miles at Thirsk's afternoon fixture.

James Bethell's gelding won on heavy ground at Pontefract on his debut in April and ran his best race since back on soft ground when second to the mud-loving Dr Sharp at Chester last weekend.

Conditions will be testing at Newcastle if the track passes an early morning inspection and this will be ideal for Mel Brittain's Melodian, who has been running consistently well all year and makes plenty of appeal in the cantorsport.co.uk Handicap.

This mile and one furlong trip will be ideal and the nine-year-old is taken to beat Mick Easterby's Mount Hillaby, who has shaped well on easy ground over a mile on her last two starts and should be suited by this longer trip.

At Bath Malapropism has been running a bit better than his recent form figures suggest and is taken to get off the mark for the season in the cantorodds.com Classified Stakes over five furlongs.