AFTER months of manfully toiling without much reward on the all-weather circuit, Its Ecco Boy (1.10) has finally found the ideal opportunity to end a long losing sequence in division one of the Press Interactive Handicap at Southwell.

Campaigned for the majority of the current winter over seven furlongs, Its Ecco Boy has so often flattered only to deceive. Several times he has looked as if he was going to be involved in the finish, prior to fading out of the picture inside the final 100 yards.

The conclusion is that nowadays the selection simply does not possess the stamina to perform to his optimum ability at any distance over six furlongs.

Close examination of Its Ecco Boy's most recent turf efforts also back up this theory. In a hugely busy 2003 campaign, trainer Paul Howling tried repeatedly to win on grass with his gelding over seven furlongs, but the fact remains the two races he managed to pick up from a monumental 26 starts were both over six furlongs at Nottingham

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and we shall see if the step back in trip suits Its Ecco Boy, but I am confident he'll give us a good run for our money in the opener at the Midlands venue.

Mark Brisbourne picks and chooses his races very carefully, therefore the presence of Amelia (1.40) in the second division should not be missed.

Amelia paid the price for laying too far off the pace at Wolverhampton this month, narrowly failing to catch the long-time leader Mr Pertemps, even though she was making up ground hand-over-fist throughout the closing stages of the contest.

It is true to say that Amelia generally pays for her keep and provided she doesn't get quite so far behind in the preliminary stages, then the filly represents a live contender in what is relatively weak affair.

Promising young apprentice jockey attached to David Barron's yard, Laura Jayne-Crawford, has attracted some rave reviews for her riding skills aboard Game Guru (2.10).

Her neat hands-and-heels style suits horses like Game Guru, who doesn't always respond to the more aggressive urgings regularly utilised by her male counterparts.

The combination were seen to good effect when edging out Locombe Hill in a tight finish over track and trip a fortnight ago, a victory for which an encore seems highly likely in the one-mile Bet Direct Apprentice Claiming Stakes.

The prospects of any action occurring at Warwick are bleak, where, in common with Plumpton, a 7.30am inspection is planned.

Plumpton are at least a little more optimistic and if they do miss out on the forecast frost and snow then Dunraven, a 13-2 wining nap for the column at Leicester last time out, is fancied to follow-up in the Racecourse Handicap Hurdle at 4.20.

* Betfred, the internet and telephone division of Done Bookmakers, have teamed up with Northern Racing to stage two separate series of races with bonuses available in excess of £500,000.

The two organisations have put together the series to serve both codes, the Betfred Sprint Series over six furlongs and the three-mile Betfred Handicap Hurdle Series to be run on Sir Stanley Clarke's group of nine racecourses.

The Sprint Series will consist of five qualifiers - at Newcastle (April 3), Yarmouth (May 14), Bath (May 27), Brighton (May 28) and Chepstow (June 21) - with the final at Newcastle on July 24.

There will be six races in the Handicap Hurdle Series - at Sedgefield (August 6), Hereford (September 30), Chepstow (October 2), Fontwell (October 12), Sedgefield (November 9) and Uttoxeter (November 13) - with the final at Newcastle on December 18.

Both finals will be shown live on Channel 4. Any horse running in a Betfred qualifier will be eligible to run in the respective final where significant bonuses are up for grabs.

Any horse that wins both the Flat and jumps series finals will receive a bonus of £250,000 and any yard that wins them will receive £25,000.

Done said: ''We came up with the idea of the two series to help promote our telephone betting division 'Betfred' and decided that it shouldn't always be the top-class horses that benefit.

''These series offer horses below top quality the opportunity to win some serious money not only for their owners and trainers but also for the yard.''

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