NICK LITTMODEN, by far the most successful trainer farming the all-weather circuit, looks primed to scoop yet more prize-money on the sand at Wolverhampton today via Sal's Gal.

Littmoden is not only leading the all-weather trainer's championship by a country mile, he also has a particularly lethal 26 per cent strike-rate at the course where at least one in every four of his runners passes the post first.

Sal's Gal isn't exactly shooting for the stars in the £4,000 Littlewoods Bet Selling Stakes, but to quote the late Arthur Stephenson, "little fish are sweet", and Nick isn't afraid to run his horses in the lowest possible grade in order to get them on the scoreboard.

Littmoden's filly has already won at the track, although over a furlong less than she has to travel today. That victory was a while ago now and every time she has run since, she has shaped as if today's distance of seven furlongs would bring about significant improvement.

One of the most interesting features of the card is the emergence of a handful of raiders from David Loder's powerful Newmarket stable.

Loder, charged with the responsibility of bringing along the majority of Sheik Mohammed's two-year-olds, recently announced his intention to retire from the job at the end of this year's turf season.

It was a decision met with almost universal disbelief. Whatever his reasons for pulling up the drawbridge I fancy he'll be desperately hoping to round off his career with a flood of winners.

Neither of David's entries, Razkalla or Westbound Road, make much appeal in the 1.40, but the unraced yet superbly-bred With Reason (2.40) might easily be good enough to take the extended mile-and-one-furlong Maiden Stakes.

Alan Bailey doesn't miss too many tricks, so it was a bit of a shock when his Queens Rhapsody left behind the cash when well-backed but only fourth at Ayr in September.

Queens Rhapsody is a half-brother to the winning all-weather sprinter Chispa, so his pedigree strongly suggests the three-year-old will handle the man-made surface. The booking of Wendyll Woods adds further weight to the the argument that the selection must not go unsupported.

Catterick's meeting hinges on a 7.30am inspection.

It would be a crying shame for Another Dude (2.00) if the fixture does get the chop because he has an outstanding chance in the EBF Novices' Hurdle.

Howard Johnson's gelding has yet to finish out of the first two in all four outings to date, an admirable record unmatched by any of his numerous rivals in the £7,000 contest.

Mick Easterby will also be hoping for the green light on account of his pair of promising young chasers, Dix Bay (2.30) and Super Nomad (3.30), both holding outstanding prospects.

Despite falling on his first try over fences, Dix Bay has reportedly schooled well at home, while Super Nomad ran a fantastic race in defeat when runner-up at odds of 16-1 in warm heat at Doncaster last week.

* A massive Tote Jackpot pool of £440,108 was partly won at Lingfield yesterday when one lucky punter's 50p ticket scooped £156,238 after selecting the first six winners at the Surrey track.

This leaves £220,054 to be carried over to Wolverhampton today and Andy Clifton, the Tote's public relations director, said: ''If we reach today's level again tomorrow, we will be delighted.

''We were optimistic that the pool would reach well in excess of £300,000 today, but to get to £440,000 was at the top end of our estimates.

''Over the last couple of years, when the pool has started the day at £200,000 or more it has almost doubled, so to outperform that, is very encouraging."

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