ONE-TIME naughty boy Big Bad Bob was on his best behaviour when slamming a big field to get off the mark at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.

But on his previous outing at Folkestone it was a different story because John Dunlop's colt lived up to his name by throwing the toys out of the pram and veering so far off a straight line that he tossed away a race he should by all accounts have won.

Dunlop's two-year-old really is only a "baby" in horse racing parlance, so perhaps we can excuse his earlier histrionics, especially as he has since made amends in such spectacular fashion.

And this afternoon at Chester Big Bad Bob (2.30) has the opportunity to continue to redeem his reputation by winning the opening event on the card, the Rippleffect Novice Stakes over an extended seven furlongs.

Having made every post a winning post at Newcastle, Chester, which has always favoured front runners, should in theory suit the selection's aggressive style.

The ever-reliable Tote once again have a hand in sponsoring the £15,000 Showcase Handicap over six furlongs.

As you would expect for the day's best prize, the race has attracted a fairly strong bunch of three-year-old sprinters, and the one I particularly like is Marshman (4.00) from Mark Tompkins' stable.

Ted Durcan's mount has already prevailed this term at Haydock, however it was his latest fourth placing to the speedy Impressive Flight at Newmarket that really caught the eye.

Tompkins has an excellent chance of completing an across-the-card double at Lingfield via Retirement (5.10) in the closing mile-and-a-quarter Arena Leisure Handicap.

Mark inherited Retirement from Sean Woods, who is now training in Honk Kong.

It seems the three-year-old has taken time to adjust to his new surroundings having failed to fulfil his 2001 promise over the past three months.

All in fact was not rosy in the garden until his latest outing at Wolverhampton where he finished runner-up in what on paper at least appeared to be quite a decent race.

It's fair to deduce from his most recent effort that Retirement is a far better horse on the sand, so it is comforting to see him return to the fray on the polytrack surface at the Surrey course.

Finally to Salisbury where the ultra-consistent Highland Shot (4.50) is worthy of support in the Matthew Clark Fillies Handicap.

Ian Balding's raider has done nothing but improve all year, unlike several of her out-of-sorts rivals in the six furlong dash.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.