VIRGIN SOLDIER and Spirit Of Love are fancied to lead a famous one-two for trainer Mark Johnston in this afternoon's £130,000 Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The all-conquering Middleham maestro has already pulled a similar rabbit out of the hat once before this season when Fruits Of Love and Yavana's Pace finished first and second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Johnston just favours the lightly-weighted Virgin Soldier (3.45), successful in seven of his previous eight races, including an impressive track and trip victory in May.

"He's been winning by such a wide margin," argued Mark. "But Spirit Of Love is dropping down in class and cannot be discounted," he added.

In a week of frantic ante-post betting activity for one of the most valuable staying handicaps run in Europe, money has come pouring in for both Martin Pipe's west-country raider Heros Fatal, and Ferdy Murphy's Christiansted.

However in reality the pair have yet to prove whether they are fully effective at this level, whereas the charismatic flashy chestnut Spirit Of Love has an undoubted touch off class, while the much-improved Virgin Soldier possesses an enviable turn of foot, even after galloping the neck-end of two-miles.

With odds of around 16-1 and 8-1 respectively available about the Johnston duo, a small each-way wager on each has every possibility of yielding a profit in what is always a competitive heat.

Wokingham winner Harmonic Way steps up to listed grade for the six-furlong John Smith's Extra Smooth Chipchase Stakes.

He needs a fast early pace, as do two of his principal rivals, Gaelic Storm and Cretan Gift (3.10). The latter was racing on the unfavoured stands' side when easily beaten off by Harmonic Way at Ascot. Today the playing field will be comparatively level, and I fancy Nick Littmoden's sprinter to gain revenge on 6lbs better terms.

Eric Alston's deplorable spring campaign has been turned on its' head by a fantastic purple patch during the past three weeks.

The amiable Lancashire-based handler sends out Record Time (5.55) for the closing five-furlong dash. Her course and distance eighth six weeks ago was not a bad effort considering Alston's inmates were under a huge cloud at the time.

Well drawn, and with the assistance of the vastly-experienced Ted Durcan aboard, she could take the finale at double-digit odds.

Former Derby-winning trainer Willie Haggas has decent prospects at Newmarket via Picture Puzzle (2.55).

On her reappearance at Thirsk I noted in the paddock beforehand that although her coat positively dazzled, the filly was marginally short of peak fitness.

Under the circumstances Picture Puzzle ran a cracker to finish third to

Poppadam, she'll strip far fitter for the outing in the Sovereign Bookmakers Handicap and represents a confident choice.

The following Group 3 Van Geest Criterion Stakes features some useful types, none more so than Arkadian Hero (3.25), attempting to record his first ever success over seven furlongs.

His trainer Luca Cumani deserves a change of fortune because he is going through the sort of nightmare every member of his profession dreads.

Cumani has admitted many of his three-year-olds are basically slow, and this after the season's leading owner the Aga Khan had removed a large proportion of the quality horses from the yard.

Pick of the bunch at Bath is Amoras (3.15), who ran like a drain at Yarmouth last time, nevertheless must go close if reproducing her previous fourth to Rendition at Brighton.

Jumping fans have plenty to look forward to at Worcester where the watering system has eased the surface sufficiently to produce some fair sized fields.

In the opening Novices' Handicap Hurdle I like the look of Invictress (2.30), in command when unluckily making an untimely exit on her penultimate start.

Gutsy Kinnescash (4.05) will not be easy to pass in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, Peter Bowen's versatile seven-year-old is particularly effective at the Midlands course.

At Doncaster's evening meeting Weet For Me (8.55) gets the rock hard underfoot conditions he so desperately needs.

Reg Hollinshead's runner floundered badly on boggy ground at Haydock in May, since when he has been sensibly rested until the sun has drawn the sap out of the turf.

There could be a few bob for Celandine (9.25) in the closing Fillies' Handicap. She warmed up nicely with a pleasing pipe opener at Beverley on Tuesday, finishing in mid-division of a slightly stronger contest