MARK JOHNSTON has numerous gems among his powerful juvenile brigade, including the Mick Doyle-owned Pearl Of Love (2.25), who heads to Doncaster this afternoon.

Doyle, an Irish-based fishing magnate, has been with Johnston virtually since the word go, supplying such supers stars as dual Royal Ascot scorer Fruits Of Love.

Mick not only includes the word "love" in the name of all of his horses, he also seems to come up with a crackerjack every season, but whether Pearl Of Love (2.25) reaches the sort of dizzy heights attained by Fruits Of Love only time will tell.

For the present the omens are good, Johnston enjoying a magnificent treble at Haydock yesterday. And judged by the promising debut made by Doyle's colt at York when narrowly touched off by a David Loder hot-pot, victory for Pearl Of Love in the Zetland Maiden Stakes should be a formality.

Barry Hills has a terrific record on the Town Moor and the Lambourn handler has found a good opportunity for Craiova (3.30) to complete a three-timer in the £15,000 seven furlong LJ Monks Ltd Handicap.

Craiova's winning streak began at Newcastle last month, where he put plenty of daylight between himself and his rivals over the final couple of furlongs. He then went to Warwick and despite only scraping home by a head, he still deserves plenty of credit having overcome a dreadful draw on the wide outside.

Leave the nap selection to Efidium (4.40) in the closing Apprentice Handicap.

Suzanne France has struck a superb relationship with Neville Bycroft's gelding, the pair already notching an impressive brace of wins at Ripon and Redcar this season.

Rain could yet wash out Haydock's meeting, which would be a pity because the £80,000 Tote Credit Silver Bowl represents one of the most competitive three-year-old one-mile handicaps run so far this season.

If the wet stuff does stay away make sure Lago d'Orta (2.10) is on your short-list.

This type of valuable contest is often won by Group-class individuals masquerading, for the time being at least, in handicap company and Lago d'Orta seemed to have an impossible task at Chester, where he had to come all the way round a big field after a tardy start.

However, the Clive Cox-trained improver produced a pleasing turn of foot to claim the Class B event and having demonstrated a liking for a soft surface last term, will be fully at home in the forecast heavy ground.

In the preceding Listed Handicap, The Kiddykid (1.40), who clocked a fast time when scoring over six furlongs at Nottingham last Saturday, warrants respect.

The juice had really got into the turf that day, proving he also will be able to handle the certain testing conditions. In addition The Kiddykid is a big, tall imposing type, just the sort to possess the inherent strength needed to pull out that little extra when asked for maximum effort in sight of the winning post.

It's business as usual for speed king David Nicholls, fast mopping up big sprints up and down the country

Nicholls sends both Funfair Wane (2.30) and Candleriggs (3.40) to Kempton and both are strongly fancied in their respective events. Last year's Ayr Gold Cup hero came back with a bang to hack up at Beverley last Saturday, while Candleriggs seems to have regained all of his old sparkle in view of a highly-encouraging comeback fifth placing at Thirsk.

The Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh sees a re-match between Zafeen (2nd), Tout Seul (4th), Tomahawk (8th) and Indian Haven (14th), all of whom clashed in the English equivalent 21 days ago.

Of the quartet the Mick Channon-trained Zafeen (3.45) was arguably the most unlucky since he was checked just over a furlong out.

"Zafeen is the only horse that can get by Naahy at home," reported Channon this week, comments that can only be regarded as a positive sign for his raider because Naahy absolutely trounced a big field of handicappers at Goodwood on Wednesday.

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