MOST trainers would walk over broken glass for the sort of two-year-old talent found within the walls of Mark Johnston's Middleham stables, writes Colin Woods.

Hardly a week goes by without one of his juvenile big guns hitting the headlines, a trend all set to continue at Thirsk where West Country (2.55) is well worthy of support in the Pinnacle Racing Maiden Stakes.

Following some encouraging work-outs on the home gallops, West Country was the subject of a substantial gamble at York on his debut when backed from 10's into 6-1 at the off.

Clearly the each-way "thieves" had their money down and he duly obliged by finishing runner-up to the Paul Cole-trained odds-on favourite, Secretary General.

Johnston's youngster is related to plenty of winners, seems sure to have come on a bomb for that outing, so should by all accounts make his presence felt in the seven furlong contest.

With a maximum field of 18 runners going to post for the Deepdale Solutions Handicap, the jockeys will doubtless be screaming for room come the time when they have to negotiate notoriously sharp final bend.

A single figure draw is normally best to avoid trouble and Pepper Road (3.25), who has been a model of consistency of late, is not badly placed emerging from stall eight.

Since Pepper Road normally races up with the pace, he could well keep out of trouble while others behind are having problems making their way through the inevitable scrum.

Yarmouth stage the day's Showcase Handicap, an extremely competitive five furlong sprint sponsored by the Tote.

Corridor Creeper (3.15) stands at the head of the weights and granted the way he travelled in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster when only nailed in the dying strides by Halmahera, then he looks the one to side with.

In the later Jack Leader Challenge Trophy Fillies Nursery, Ann Summers Two (4.15) also has a great chance of defying top-weight.

Brian Meehan's representative was taking on far stronger company when not disgraced in a Conditions Stakes event last time out. She'll appreciate this drop in class and more especially not having to take on the colts and geldings.

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