DAVID CHAPMAN has found the perfect opportunity for Quito (2.50) to make a successful transition from top-notch handicapper, to genuine a pattern class performer, in today's Group 3 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.

Having dramatically claimed last season's Ayr Gold Cup with a last-gasp lunge on the line to collar Seel Of Approval, Quito has added to his impressive haul with a couple more victories this term, including a cosy one-length triumph in a Conditions Stakes event at Haydock last time out.

Crucially the two main criteria required for Chapman's stable-star to show what he's really made of have both been met in this afternoon's £50,000 clash. For starters Quito, an out-an-out hold-up horse, needs to be buried early doors, a card that should not be difficult to finesse with 12 other runners to hide behind for the first six furlongs.

And secondly, easy ground is also essential for the speedy seven-year-old, who has had his prayers' answered on that particular count at the Berkshire course, where in common with the rest of the UK plenty of rain has fallen of late.

Fellow North Yorkshire raider, Mary Read (2.15), can make it good day for the county by scooping the preceding £25,000 St Hughes Stakes.

Bryan Smart's flying filly boasts a consistency record second-to-none having not once finished out of the first three in all six career starts to date.

As is often the case with two-year-olds, she clocked her highest speed rating so far not in victory but defeat when touched off in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

A couple of lengths clear at the furlong pole and seemingly home and hosed, it must have been heartbreaking for connections when Mick Channon's Tournedos came out of the clouds to nail Smart's filly right on the wire.

There's no disguising the promise of that improved effort and as a result Mary Read has to be regarded as a one of the leading lights in the exciting five-furlong dash.

David Barron has been a good friend to this column over the past few months and it would come as no surprise if he did us another good turn should the yard's improving three-year-old, Flipando (2.05), take the opener at Newmarket.

Flipando was the subject of significant market support when landing a slightly less valuable event at Haydock in July, a race in which he showed supreme battling qualities to wear down Richard Fahey's Doitnow in the final 50 yards.

Collier Hill (4.45), who has been in great heart all year, attempts to add to his considerable 2004 swag by launching a daring smash-and-grab raid on the £20,000 National Stud Conditions Stakes.

Alan Swinbank's money-spinning gelding followed his authoritative triumph at Hamilton with an excellent fourth placing in the Northumberland Plate, plus a lucrative third in a similarly strong handicap at York.

Richard Guest has kept his string busy during the summer months with the likes of Donovan, who opened his account over hurdles with a gritty first win at Kelso in May.

Donovan now heads for Bangor in order to have a crack at more a competitive heat, the two-mile-and-one-furlong Genesis Wealth Management Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Guest is almost sure to have his progressive five-year-old fully tuned up, and despite an 87-day break is fancied to be in the shake-up come the business end of the contest.

Local knowledge is vital at Market Rasen's trappy course, so it is very much to Farlington's advantage that he prevailed over track and trip last time out.

Farlington recorded an extremely quick time on his recent visit to the Lincolnshire venue and looks destined to make up into quite a smart young chaser.