John Spearing'sThihn (2.55) has cast-iron credentials for this afternoon's Freephone Stanley Spring Mile.

Twelve months ago Thihn made the Lincoln proper, a race in which he finished fourth despite having lost around seven lengths after being caught sleeping in the stalls.

Spearing's original plan to make good Thihn's tardy start in 2002 has been scuppered after his eight-year-old was unfortunately eliminated from tomorrow's big race, finding himself having to run in today's £25,000 consolation event.

But failure to beat the cut could prove a blessing in disguise for Thihn, a rattling good miler who goes particularly well when fresh compared to a field composed of too many horses patently short of peak fitness following their winter breaks.

The draw over the straight mile on the Town Moor has tended to favour those drawn low in recent years, although that was when the ground was riding slow.

Drying conditions mean the likes of Thihn, emerging from stall 19, may not be at such a disadvantage, indeed I believe the stands' side runners could well come out on top.

Mark Johnston has a handful of promising three-year-olds who are fully expected to make up for lost time after being sidelined for one reason or another in 2002.

One such example is Love In Seattle (1.45), owned by Mark's long-standing Irish patron, Mick Doyle.

Love In Seattle worked like a super star on the gallops last year and, judging by current reports emerging from Middleham Low Moor, the son of Seattle Slew is moving equally well in preparation for his long awaited racecourse debut.

Junkanoo (4.05) looks on a handy mark for the longest race on the card, the Jimmy FitzGerald Handicap.

Recently-retired Jimmy will be on hand to present the prize, which hopefully will be heading back to our region in Junkanoo's saddlebag. Mary Reveley's dour stayer is tailor-made for the two-mile-two-furlong distance, one of the longest contests on the entire Flat racing calendar.

Junkanoo's presence at the foot of the handicap has allowed Mary to secure the services of leading lightweight jockey, Jimmy Quinn, who is an excellent judge of pace.

In the full knowledge that Junkanoo's stamina is not in doubt, Quinn knows he will be able to force the issue from quite a long way out, a ploy designed to ensure the pair are not tapped for toe over the last couple of furlongs.

In the Ashleybank-sponsored Scottish Borders National at Kelso, Jocks Cross (3.50) makes plenty of appeal.

He's one of the elder statesmen engaged in the four-mile marathon, not that his advancing years were evident at Haydock last time when he ran a fantastic race to finish fifth behind Shotgun Willy and Iris Bleu.

Three years ago Jock's Cross won the Welsh Grand National and has since finished runner-up in the race. Still displaying a remarkable enthusiasm for the job, Jock's Cross is guaranteed to be grinding it out while others have cried enough.

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