DOUBLE HONOUR deserves to win at Newbury this afternoon in the aftermath of a most unlucky defeat at Hereford one week ago.

Its no use crying over spilled milk, but precisely what rider Richard Johnson was up to aboard Double Honour at Hereford last Wednesday remains a mystery. The Philip Hobbs-trained grey admittedly appeared to suffer a mid-race loss of confidence on his chasing debut, nonetheless Johnson's decision to take things easy on the gelding for at least a furlong cost the combination dear.

Having forfeited around 25 lengths by allowing the leaders to pull right away, Richard then belatedly realised there was nothing wrong with Double Honour and set off in hot pursuit of the pacesetters.

Sadly, despite finishing like an express train, the six-year-old former runner-up to Persian Punch in the 2001 Goodwood Cup, failed by three lengths to catch Mondial Jack and Historic.

To my way of thinking the result was a total travesty of justice, happily though, given more positive tactics in the Evening Post Novices' Chase, Double Honour (1.50) has a great chance of redressing the balance by opening his account over fences at only the second time of asking.

The feature event on the card, the three-mile Harwell Trophy, is far from easy to suss out because the handicapper has not been kind to the four horses heading the weights.

If I am correct in believing that Infrasonique, Cool Investment, Cresswell Quay, and Coursing Run all have too much on their respective plates then it may pay to play an outsider in the shape of Bramblehill Duke (2.55).

Some tipster I hear you say, how come the horse didn't even manage to complete the course at Doncaster in December? In defence of the selection there were valid excuses for that dismal performance because the ground was simply too fast, plus he made a mother-and-father of a blunder at the 13th fence, effectively putting paid to his prospects of keeping tabs on the leaders.

Today's far softer surface and more demanding track clearly suits Bramblehill Duke much better having proved his mettle at the track once or twice in the past. Throw into the equation the presence of the absolutely brilliant young pilot Sam Thomas in the saddle, and the potential for backing quite a decent priced winner looms large on the horizon.

Leave the closing three-mile Conditional Jockey' Handicap Hurdle to All In The Stars, who ran his heart out when chasing home Noble Baron at Exeter on New Year's Day.

All In The Stars (4.00) was staying on like a lion that day and granted his known ability to handle the testing conditions, should be thoroughly at home in a race likely to develop into a war of attrition.

l Dunraven landed a cracking 13-2 nap selection for followers of Janus (Colin Woods) at Leicester yesterday.

l Claims that the British Horseracing Board Summer Triple Crown was to be scrapped after just one year were denied by the sport's governing body yesterday, writes TATTENHAM.

''To say that it has been scrapped is both premature and wrong,'' Alan Delmonte, director of communications at the BHB, said.

''We said that when we launched it, it would run for a year and then there would be a review of how it worked, what other developments could take place and how it could be changed or not changed. That review is still going on.

''We are in consultation with the racecourses involved and other racecourses, including the Super 12."

The Summer Triple Crown and Grand Slam were the idea of BHB chairman Peter Savill. It was designed to provide encouragement for owners to keep older horses in training to be targeted at the valuable prizes."