JOE FANNING'S booking for Sharaby (3.40) should ensure the three-year-old gets maximum assistance from the saddle in Newcastle's Connor Sadler Handicap.

Ed Dunlop's filly has won two of her last six outings over a distance of seven furlongs - victories for which Sharaby has been allotted a handicap mark of 69.

But from a betting point of view, it's entirely feasible that she'll progress for the step up to one mile, in which case Sharaby might have a few pounds in hand on her rivals, an advantage the tactically astute Fanning is guaranteed to exploit.

Chris Thornton's string is much reduced these days, however, given the right ammunition, he can still do the job.

Using that theme to our advantage, the popular Middleham handler has always thought a bit about Intavac Boy (5.10), who bids to open his account in the Contractors Handicap.

Intavac Boy, twice runner-up at the backend of 2004 over eight furlongs, now tries his luck at a mile-and-a-quarter, a distance much more suited to the gelding's pedigree and style of running.

In the same contest a saver on the Michael Dods' trained Rotuma is additionally recommended.

Napped by this column on his last two starts, the unlucky gelding has been mugged close home on both occasions and if any horse deserves a change of luck, it is surely Rotuma.

Serena Brotherton, the owner and rider of Golden Chance (5.55), is in pole position to catch the bookmakers on the hop for the opener at Catterick's evening meeting.

Golden Chance enjoyed a more-than-satisfactory pipe opener when third at Musselburgh, a perfect preparation for the Amateur Riders' Handicap, a race which by pure definition will not take too much winning.

Having broken an almost interminable hoodoo in winning for the first time in three years at Thirsk on Monday, Linden's Lady (8.00) might be just be in the right sort of shape to do it again.

First hand observation can be invaluable when it comes checking physical condition, therefore the very fact Linden's Lady was bucking and kicking in the paddock on Monday gave a clear indication of her current well being.

Having seen the John Weymes' inmate for myself, I reckon whatever was previously ailing the five-year-old has eased, paving the way for a second triumph within the space of five days.

As far as the best bet of the day goes, Hiddensee gets the nod in Newbury's stanjames.com Handicap, a race so competitive that it's possible to extol the virtues of all 12 runners.

Making a choice in such tight-knit affairs is always tricky, nevertheless seeing as now is the time of year to be siding with three-year-olds versus their elders, Hiddensee (2.40), very much enters calculations.

Mark Johnston's raider has won two from his last three, neither was there any disgrace in his latest sixth placing in a red-hot Royal Ascot at York handicap, an event run over an inadequate mile-and-a-half as far as the selection was concerned.