WHEN Lambourn-based Mick Channon sends a horse north he invariably enlists the services of Tony Culhane to take the reins.

It's a partnership that has proved sublimely successful because Culhane boasts a fantastic 26 per cent strike-rate, having netted 15 winners from 57 rides offered to him by Channon during 2003.

The dynamic duo have the bookmakers running scared in these parts and they take to the field again at Catterick today, where Saida Lenasera (2.30) has a terrific chance of scooping the opening seven-furlong maiden.

The selection has been placed on both of her starts to date, running particularly well when third in a white-hot Newbury contest last time out.

A reproduction of that effort should ensure another winner for the Channon/Culhane combo, although the equally potent Sir Michael Stoute and Kieren Fallon team is expected to provide stern opposition with Nahane.

In the later catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap, Cantrip (4.30) has extremely solid credentials.

Ralph Beckett's stayer, who made all to win at Lingfield in June, has since put in a string of sterling runs against some quite useful opponents.

The collateral evidence of Cantrip's form suggests he'll hold all the aces against mainly exposed rivals with the possible exception of Patricia Philomena, who is set to carry a 6lb penalty for her recent authoritative triumph at Carlisle.

Punters who did their dough on Hoh Viss (2.45) at Newbury 11 days ago have the chance to get some bread back in the bank at Bath.

Hoh Viss beat all bar Wiggy Smith at the Berkshire venue, an encouraging spin strongly indicating that his turn was near in the skybet.com Handicap

After a sluggish mid-summer spell, Nick Littmoden's stable is now firing on all cylinders.

One of those responsible for the avalanche of winners is Tiber Tiber, who has won three of his last six starts.

Littmoden has cleverly sussed out a very weak affair, the Vegas Rated Stakes, for his three-year-old to improve that fine record even further.

In the closing Sky Bet Fillies Handicap, Erracht (4.45) is a confident choice.

Erracht did us a tidy favour when landing a 3-1 winning nap over course and distance when she was last seen out 12 days ago.

Erracht didn't just win that day, she totally destroyed the opposition with a searing burst of acceleration at the furlong pole.

Admittedly the race was only a claimer, but the way she strolled to victory suggests it could a case of dj vu today.

* Love That Benny, a son of Derby winner Benny The Dip, put up an encouraging performance on his racecourse bow in the Black Sheep Brewery Maiden Stakes at Ripon yesterday.

Ripon is a tricky course for inexperienced horses, and into the bargain Love That Benny did not appear to be appreciating the fast ground.

He ran very green and kept changing his legs in the last three furlongs, so it was to his credit that he was beaten less that four lengths.

He will have learned a lot from this outing and with a mile and a half sure to suit him too, he looks a future winner.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.