TRAINER Michael Dods can do little wrong at present so the fact he sends Flying Tackle (4.30) all the way from Darlington to Bath speaks volumes for the six-year-old sprinter's chances.

After three quick-fire doubles in late June, Michael was on the mark yet again at Nottingham on Saturday evening with 10-1 winner, Mickledor. That was Mickledor's first ever win, whereas Flying Tackle already has a couple career successes under his belt, plus plenty of placed efforts including last time out at Beverley behind Laurel Dawn.

In view of the fact that Flying Tyke had a diabolical low draw in stall four, it was a near miraculous run by the selection. And there is more encouragement to be gleaned from the subsequent performances of Laurel Dawn, who has franked the form with highly commendable runs at both Catterick and Haydock.

Dods also has decent prospects with Jedeydd (3.45), who instead of heading south with Flying Tackle, goes due north to Musselburgh in Scotland to contest the seven-furlong YSC Selling Stakes.

Although Jedeydd takes a drop in class to selling company having run reasonably well to finish sixth in an apprentices' event at Newmarket last time, there are still other horses in the line-up, such as Quicks The Word, who are capable of posing a major threat.

Alan Swinbank's decision to target Rutters Rebel (7.50) at the Ripon Land Rover Handicap could have the bookmakers in a spot of bother.

They don't come much shrewder than Alan, a man capable of producing any type of horse from speedy juveniles on the Flat to three-mile staying chasers over the sticks.

Rutters Rebel is currently being campaigned over middle distances, and was desperately unlucky to miss out at Leicester 11 days ago when agonisingly caught bang on the wire by Tender Falcon.

Short-head defeats are by far and away the most difficult pills to swallow, a real choker in the case of Rutters Rebel since the handicapper also opted to stick the gelding up a couple of pounds.

Such disadvantageous adjustments in the ratings have undoubtedly made his task a tad more difficult, but at least the thought of having to compete on an easy surface will have boosted the hopes of connections no end.

Following a recent operation to repair the lining of his hip, Scarcroft-near-Leeds-based trainer, Richard Whitaker, has left son Simon to take the helm at the stables while he has been hospitalised.

Simon proved his effectiveness by placing Alchemist Master (8.50) to score at Catterick last Wednesday, a victory I expect him to build on by following up in the one-mile Dufell Roofing Handicap.

l Frankie Dettori was out of luck in the BMW Deutsches Derby in Hamburg yesterday.

The ever-popular Italian, successful on Refuse To Bend in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday, partnered Sweet Wake for Mario Hofer in the Group One event but the pair were among the many left toiling as Shirocco ran out a most impressive winner.