MUD-LOVING Welsh Emperor has conditions to suit in the five-furlong Pearl And Coutts Showcase Handicap at Newmarket this afternoon.

The testing surface is exactly what Welsh Emperor requires, as he demonstrated when demolishing some useful sprinters in a bog at Haydock in August.

Tadcaster-based trainer Thomas Tate has patiently waited for similarly testing ground, a policy that could well pay-off in the £18,000 dash.

The successful filly or mare will significantly improve her price tag by winning the Listed Lanwades Stud Several Stakes.

The probable favourite and my potential winner is the locally-trained three-year-old, Spinette (2.15). She won her maiden at the course in convincing fashion and then stepped up a gear on that effort when third to Dermot Weld's high-class filly, Dressed To Thrill, in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes last time out.

Willie Haggas has avoided some far more difficult opportunities and opted to send his promising two-year-old Socialise (1.55) to Southwell.

Socialise made plenty of friends on her Newmarket debut when finishing third, beaten only by a neck and short-head in a 19-runner field. That sort of superior form is head-and-shoulders above anything achieved by her rivals in the EBF Bet Direct Premiership Maiden Stakes.

In the Super League Grand Final Cashback Handicap, the habitual trail-blazer Cark (3.00) should be suited by the return to the minimum distance.

He left his rivals behind for the first five furlongs at the all-weather venue nine days ago. Unfortunately for his backers the fuel gauge was reading empty over the final couple of hundred yards.

Now he doesn't have the extra furlongs to worry about, his rider Lee Enstone will be able to put his foot hard to the floor from flag fall in the certain knowledge that Cark will not be wilting come the business end of the contest.

The mile-and-a-half Fraction Better Handicap amounts to little more than a selling race, a grade to which Mark Johnston's Affray (4.10) has yet to stoop.

Considering Affray was regarded as one of the best handicapped three-year-olds in the stable, his one win a relatively weak affair at Bath is very poor.

It will come as no surprise if Affray farms a fair few readies over the winter months on the sand.

Sundried Tomato (5.10) is fancied to overcome his poor wide draw to claim the closing six-furlong First Five Handicap.

* Redcar clerk of the course John Gundill has issued a plea to trainers with runners at the track on Friday.

The course has only 142 stables available and there may be more declared runners than boxes available. Gundill has asked that trainers take this into account when making their running plans.

l Neil Pollard will have his appeal against a four-day ban imposed by the York stewards on Saturday heard at the Jockey Club today. He was found guilty of irresponsible riding of a minor nature on Satyr

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