QUALITAIR WINGS (3.40) has ticks in all of the right boxes for the Golborne Rated Stakes at Haydock.

Considering the James Hetherton-trained five-year-old missed the break and encountered trouble in running, Qualitair Wings did remarkably well to finish third behind Raphael at Thirsk on the first of the month.

Hetherton's gelding was probably suffering from a little ring-rustiness on that occasion and the selection, who is bound to be 3-4lbs fitter for the outing, looks sure to make a swifter exit from the gate and make his task significantly easier in the one-mile contest.

There's was plenty to like about Flipando's comeback effort at Ascot where he finished fourth in a red hot Class D event.

Flipando (2.35) has been found a less demanding test for his second start of the season in the Performance Car Hire Handicap, a race well within his compass given the fact the opposition is not nearly so fearsome.

The ground has dried up at Ayr where the forecast of good to firm will favour Jabaar's (3.25) bid to take the most valuable race on the card, the £14,000 Dawn Construction Stakes.

Two years ago when in the hands of Ed Dunlop, Jabaar's rating rose to 97 following some smart performances in top handicap company. Presumably connections thought this was too harsh and opted to sell the handsome grey.

Bought by David Nicholls to be trained at Sessay, a few miles from Thirsk, Jabaar disappointingly failed to get his head in front for his new connections in the course of the 2003 campaign.

Nicholls is not the sort of guy to give up without a fight and to my way of thinking he has got the five-year-old right back on track with a couple of cracking efforts at Doncaster and York on his latest couple of starts.

In the closing Duke of Perth Handicap, Armagnac (5.05) is worthy of serious contemplation.

There was a boat-load of cash on the Betfair internet site for Mark Buckley's speedster prior to his most recent visit to the racecourse when a close-up third at Yarmouth seven days ago.

Armagnac has never won before June during his career, however there's a first time for everything and it's plain to see that the gelding has come to hand just a shade earlier than has been the case in previous years.

The champion jockey, Kieren Fallon, has opted to go to Newmarket where he has a several leading chances via Thunder Calling (2.10), Coy, Barking Mad (3.50), and Daze (4.55).

Potentially the best-priced of the quartet is Barking Mad, who didn't show much on his return at Windsor in April. Trainer Michael Bell's horses hadn't got into their stride at that time, but happily things are now looking a lot rosier for Bell's stable.

Barking Mad bagged over 24 grand in prize money for his owners last term and seeing as his stable-mates have been making hay over the past fortnight, it'll be no surprise if he gets also gets in on the act.

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