NEWCASTLE'S Gosforth Park Cup is always a fiercely-competitive contest, but Smart Predator could turn the race into a procession if he steals a march on his rivals once the starting stalls fly open.

Always happiest when allowed to bowl along in front, John Quinn's dashing grey sprinter could be away and gone by the time the remaining 18-strong field get within sniffing distance of his backside.

It's also good to know the champion apprentice elect Paul Hanagan has been snapped up to partner Smart Predator (8.00). Hanagan can do little wrong at present, booting in a sufficient number of winners to suggest he's bang on course to claim this year's apprentice jockeys' championship.

Proceedings get underway with a mile-and-a-quarter handicap confined to Amateur Riders only.

It's definitely not a race to have the mortgage on, nonetheless if you do fancy a bet, a pound or two on Zagaleta (7.00) might well get the evening off to a profitable start.

Once again jockey booking is of crucial importance, consequently the fact that one of the north's most promising young pilots, Nicky Tinkler, takes the mount on Zagalata, is an extremely positive omen.

Jim Goldie and Tony Culhane team up for the last two races with distinct possibilities of landing a double via Tony Tie (9.00) and Exeat (9.30).

Both will have to defy top-weight if they are to prevail, however, Tony Tie has been performing consistently well in a whole stack of high-profile handicaps over the past few weeks, while Exeat demonstrated bags of guts to make all at Ayr last time out.

Seb Sanders looks the man to follow at Wolverhampton's afternoon fibresand meeting where he has picked up five cracking rides.

Sanders will be hard to beat in the first on Look Here Now (2.10), who put the opposition to the sword with a devastating burst at Southwell last week.

In the following mile-and-a-half seller, Seb should also have an armchair conveyance aboard the sand specialist, Desert Spa (2.40).

His other three rides, Wixoe Express (3.10), Branston Tiger (3.40), and Polka Princes (4.10), are all strong contenders and for those of you interested in multiple bets, a super yankee is advised on the quintet in the hope of a bumper pay out at the end of the day.

Three cheers for Stratford's go-ahead management, responsible for putting up a £15,000 pot for the George Pagnall Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

Such decent prize money is a rare commodity as far as summer jumping is concerned and the one I reckon who is in line for the "big touch" is Ashgan (8.20), so impressive when bolting up at Worcester last week.

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