RICHARD WHITAKER'S decision to drop Nevada Desert (3.45) down in distance could help his horse make a welcome return to the winners' enclosure at Hamilton this afternoon.

Having disappointed over a mile-and-a-half at York last time out, Scarcroft-near-Leeds based trainer Whitaker has taken the drastic step of slicing the best part of a half-mile off that trip and lining up his gelding for the Scottish Trophy Stakes.

It is not hard to understand Whitaker's logic because Nevada Desert does tend to pull very hard in the early stages of his races, a trait which has unfortunately left him bereft of energy when under the cosh over the final couple of furlongs.

When horses such as Nevada Desert simply refuse to settle, often the only option is to let them get on with the job, so expect jockey Stanley Chin to employ catch-me-if-you-can tactics by getting his rivals at full stretch and then hang on for dear life.

David Thompson, who has set up shop at the tiny hamlet of Bolam not far from Darlington, seems to have the happy knack of improving the horses coming into his care.

Thompson acquired Pilgrims Progress (4.45) from Ireland and in no time placed the four-year-old to grab fourth spot in red-hot staying event at Haydock. With the form of that contest working out extremely well, Pilgrims Progress is fancied to win the closing contest at the Scottish venue, the one-mile-and-five-furlong totepool Handicap. Good old-fashioned turf form doesn't always automatically transfer length-for-length to the fibresand, but in the case of Southwell-bound Campeon (5.10) I believe he will be quick enough to take the opening six-furlong Claiming Stakes.

Mark Wallace's youngster has put in a series of superb placed efforts and with the opposition lacking any strength-in-depth, Campeon has a clear chance to finally break his duck following a series of near misses on turf.

The Sharp Minds Betfair Maiden Stakes at Windsor brings together some promising three-year-olds including the Newmarket duo, Day Of Reckoning and Newnham (7.25).

Although the former, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Kieren Fallon, showed plenty of promise to finish third on his debut, preference is marginally for Darryll Holland's mount, Newnham.

If there is so much as a hint of immaturity about any of his horses, Luca Cumani is renowned for bringing them along slowly. It is a softly-softly approach that has paid off innumerable times and I think Newnham will be no exception.

Having not run either as a two-year-old or through the first seven months of 2004, the stoutly bred son of Theatrical made an encouraging, if belated bow, when finishing runner-up to Sea Nymph.

Newnham is bound to come on a ton for that outing fitness-wise, which combined with the benefit of this evening's extra couple of furlongs should be sufficient to help him make his mark at only the second time of asking.

* Winner Finder came up trumps on Saturday when the long shot selection, Telemachus, scorched to a 16-1 success at Sandown.

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