APPRENTICE jockey Paul Bradley has been struggling for winners over the past few months but this afternoon at Beverley his career could be in receipt of a much-needed boost aboard Tantric (3.30).

Paul seems to have been around for an eternity so it's quite a surprise to observe he's still entitled to claim a 5lb allowance.

Not that it's a problem for backers of the selection, as the weight he takes off Tantric's back might easily make the difference between victory and defeat in the hugely competitive division one of the Maclean And Appleton Handicap.

Last week at the track Bradley was doing the steering when Tantric finished in third spot over an extended mile. The three-year-old gelding was returning from a long absence that day and having hit the front just over a furlong out it was probably only the lack of peak fitness that ultimately proved his undoing.

Sharper for the outing, plus the benefit of a massively advantageous low draw, Tantric seems poised to add to earlier successes gained at Carlisle and Wolverhampton.

Twelve months ago Smart Predator gave his rivals a right good hiding in the Violet And Eddie Smith Memorial Conditions Stakes.

How times change because John Quinn's grey simply cannot get his act together this term, showing little of the sparkle which helped him net a total of four races and fifty grand during an extremely lucrative 2001 campaign.

It would be unwise to get over-enthusiastic about Smart Predator's prospects of landing the £11,750 conditions contest for the second year in a row, but with the stable now back in top form he could be worth a dabble at a potentially rewarding starting price.

The Official Handicapper has got most of the runners well and truly under wraps for the mile-and-a-quarter Brian Merrington Memorial Handicap.

There is generally, however, the odd exception to the rule in such races and Lady Stratagem (4.00) is one who has yet to show her full hand.

Edwin Tuer's filly demonstrated her first signs of ability when making late headway in a similar contest at Newcastle recently.

Provided she maintains that level of improvement she might just be too good for her mainly exposed rivals.

Shame on Newmarket for putting together a dreadful card consisting of four boring maiden races coupled with a conditions event and just one handicap.

The only race of any real interest is the closing six-furlong Nursery Handicap, in which the top-weight Melrose Place (4.40) looks good to complete a hat-trick.

It has taken along time for the penny to drop for Neville Callaghan's colt, but now that he has finally cottoned on to what is required he is doing the business in the style of a model professional.

There's not a bad little jumps meeting at Fontwell where the in-form Miss Lacroix (5.20) bids to follow-up her August course and distance win.

Confidence is slightly tempered by a cruel 14lb hike in the weights for that success, although on the plus side Reg Hollinshead's mare really does thrive on the prevailing fast ground.

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