ROMAN KING will relish the rain-softened surface in the Showcase Handicap at Haydock this afternoon.

The ground cannot be deep enough for Mary Reveley's son of Sadler's Wells, a runaway winner of a similarly competitive handicap at Epsom just over a year ago.

Roman King has since struggled to recapture top form until making eye-catching late headway to fill seventh spot at Ayr last Friday.

Kevin Darley was not unduly hard on his mount at the Scottish track, kindness which might easily be repaid in today's £12,000 feature.

Darley looks to be in for a profitable day's work because in the preceding seven-furlong Park House Farm Maiden Stakes, Anne Tudor (3.00) has an excellent chance of going one better having finished runner-up on both of her starts during the 2001 campaign.

The Barry Hills-trained three-year-old filly was especially promising when second to Wish at Redcar in the autumn.

Kevin should also be on the mark aboard Gracilis (4.00) in the Max Turner Celebration Stakes over two miles.

Alan Swinbank's progressive five-year-old came from a mile back to grab third spot on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle. Certain to strip fitter for that outing, he'll not be fazed by taking on this slightly stronger company.

In the closing Dean Moor five-furlong dash I reckon Statoyork (5.00) could have about 4-5lbs in hand on his rivals, an excellent reason for awarding Derek Shaw's sprinter the nap vote.

At Chepstow, the Tintern Abbey Handicap is not easy to predict, although if Kent (5.10) is in the same sort of mood as he was when scoring at Nottingham then Peter Cundell's dour stayer can defy his 5lbs penalty.

My best news at Newbury concerns Zibeline (7.30) in the Sony Handicap.

Rod Millman's gelding won a better grade event off an identical mark (79) last August, ridden as he is this evening by Darryll Holland.