ALKAADHEM, a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, should not be missed in the Spring Cup at Newbury.

If my sums are right this could be the last handicap the Marcus Tregoning-trained colt contests because Alkaadhem (2.15) looks to be every inch a Group standard performer.

Napped by this column to win the Lincoln Handicap, it was devastating to discover all too late that the selection was forced to race up the far side of the course at Doncaster, a strip of ground that was riding ten lengths slower than the massively favoured stands' rail.

To rub salt in the wounds of his each-way backers, Alkaadhem finished just out of the money in fifth spot, so even though he beat the far side bunch hands down, punters were still out of pocket.

The constant battle with the bookies is always going to be topsy-turvy, swings and roundabouts, kind of thing. Time then for the pendulum of fortune to rock back in our direction by steaming into Alkaadhem for the £40,000 one-mile Class B Handicap.

From a purely value point of view there's no doubt Alkaadhem is going to start at a relatively short price considering the strength of the opposition, however there is plenty of stable confidence behind the lightly-raced four-year-old.

It is also highly interesting to note Tregoning swerved Newmarket's Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes in preference for this afternoon's engagement.

"He's not been raised in the weights for his Lincoln run and he's working well at home," said Marcus.

Middleham handler James Bethell has his team in superb fettle, signalling the strong possibility of Mine (3.00) making a winning return at Thirsk.

Bethell's charge didn't really get the rub of green last term, on several occasions being beaten by either a poor draw, or failure to obtain a clear run.

Nonetheless his proven ability to act on the course, plus the evident sparkling form of the yard, persuades me to believe he is the one to be on in the Harlequin Clear Air Conditions Stakes.

Vicious Prince (3.30), whose virus-affected 2003 campaign was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster, is fancied to begin to make up for lost time in the mile-and-a-half Gillamoor Classified Stakes.

They say every cloud has a silver lining and the fact that Richard Whitaker's handsome five-year-old has plunged down the ratings as result of his fruitless endeavours means he's now very much back on a winning weight.

The supporting card to the Scottish Grand National at Ayr has lured many a National Hunt star out of the woodwork including Benbyas (3.10), a leading contender for the Samsung Electronics Champion Hurdle.

Fit from a brace of sparkling wins on the level, Benbyas, arguably the slickest jumper of hurdles in the business, is just the type to put his rivals to the sword by utilising his trademark front-running style.

As ever Wolverhampton's evening fixture gets the final word, a shilling or two recommended on Labrett (6.30), hopefully destined to end a frustrating run of placed efforts by landing the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap for the "Queen of the Sand", Gay Kelleway.

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