ENCHANTING TIMES (2.45) has been found an extremely weak race in which to try and open her account at Bath this afternoon.

The five-furlong seller really is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff, but that shouldn't deter would-be backers from getting stuck into Enchanting Times, who put up a much-improved effort when third in a similar event at Leicester last month.

Perhaps the most persuasive reason to support the selection revolves around the fact that the horse marginally in front of her at Leicester, Saxon Saint, has subsequently franked the form by notching a double in nursery company at Sandown and Brighton.

Advancing years seem no barrier to Full Spate, fancied to defy top-weight in the following Wick Claiming Stakes.

Milton Bradley's ten-year-old retains a good deal of spring in his step, a point proven in no uncertain manner when he saw off a bunch of much younger sprinters at Haydock on Friday evening.

Admittedly jockey Neil Callan had to get pretty serious with the old boy, but Full Spate (3.15) responded generously to his riders' urgings, producing a rare rattle to overhaul the hot favourite, H Harrison, not far from the line.

Sir Michael Stoute's admirable 24 per cent 2005 strike-rate represents an accurate reflection of his reluctance to run any of his inmates unless they have an outstanding chance.

That definitely applies to Villarrica (3.45), successful on her only start this term when, despite being absent from the track for 36 weeks, she still had enough to beat Mark Johnston's Western House.

Villerrica hasn't been too harshly treated for that inaugural win, so the daughter of Selkirk shouldn't be opposed lightly in the near mile-and-a-half Joe Wynne Memorial Handicap.

Newton Abbot's policy of keeping the course well watered has ensured some decent fields for their six-race National Hunt card.

The tight left-handed bends put the emphasis on speed rather than stamina, a feature that very much plays to the strengths of Polished (4.15), who has been unstoppable to date this summer

Trained by Richard Guest at Brancepeth for his initial two victories, a change of scenery to Victor Dartnell's West Country yard didn't make a jot of difference as the gelding completed a well-deserved hat-trick on his first outing for new connections.

A jump jockey's lot is not always a happy one as Tony McCoy found when High Gear (4.00) dumped the reigning champion on the seat of his pants at Southwell in July.

High Gear has also since got rid of Jamie Moore, and McCoy will have to be on his mettle to keep the partnership intact for the Car Boot Sale Handicap.

One thing is for sure, the seven-year-old stays forever and provided he doesn't make another mess of his obstacles, then each-way investors could be rewarded in the 3-mile marathon.

* Robert Winston was yesterday recovering from an operation after sustaining a broken jaw in a horrific fall at Ayr on Saturday evening.

His agent Richard Hale said: ''The operation got pushed back to just after midnight but they tell me everything has gone fine.

''He was a bit groggy this morning and was on painkillers so I haven't actually spoken to him but they assured me everything had gone fine and they were happy."

Winston, 25, was riding Pearl's A Singer in the Farrans Utilities Maiden Voyage Handicap when the filly appeared to slip on the home bend, sending him crashing through the rails.

Three other horses were brought down and the meeting was abandoned due to unsafe ground.

Winston suffered multiple fractures to his jaw and was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock.

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