Mint in perfect condition for Stewards Turf Nursery

David Barker's filly won narrowly at Thirsk despite veering violently left-handed and giving away several lengths in the process. On the evidence of that somewhat wayward victory, it's safe to say that if Mint had navigated a more conventional path she'd have prevailed by a greater distance and thus incurred a severer penalty.

Such nuggets of information are normally well worth taking into account, especially as Barker's two-year-old appears reasonably well treated for Musselburgh's Stewards Turf Nursery, a five-furlong contest well within her grasp if the aforementioned theory turns out to be correct.

In the preceding Quick Address Selling Stakes, Mystified (3.00), has done enough in three starts to suggest he's capable of winning at this lowly level.

Roger Fisher's gelding has been keeping far headier company and as a consequence cut little ice in maidens at Beverley and Catterick. Mystified now takes a significant drop in class, which should do the trick in what is by definition a weak affair.

Ptarmigan Ridge has plunged down the ratings as a result of a miserable campaign, however, he showed definite signs if an imminent revival when fourth in the Great St Wilfred Handicap last time out.

Potential backers of the selection need not be fooled into thinking that the nine-year-old is getting a bit long in the tooth since he demonstrated plenty of dash in that high-profile race at Ripon 12 days ago.

Indeed, rather than blame advancing years for the failure, it was the six-furlong trip that precipitated Ptarmigan Ridge's undoing, a distance over which he's never won throughout a long and distinguished career.

Now back to his favoured five furlongs for the feature event on the card, the £10,000 Racing UK Handicap, Linda Perratt's Scottish-based sprinter possesses the requisite leg speed to outgun his rivals and keep the prize on home soil.

Richard Fahey's not leaving any clubs in the bag as he bids to make 2005 his best ever season.

A prime example is Burnley Al (5.00), who rates a leading contender for the D H Hall Handicap. It was a case of so near yet so far for the gelding at Ayr where he seemed sure to win, only to be caught right on the wire and denied the spoils by the fast-finishing Dream Tonic.

Fahey has responded to that heartbreaking reverse by stepping his charge back in trip from one mile to seven furlongs, a sensible tactical ploy fancied to enable Burnley Al to gain handsome compensation for such an unlucky defeat.

* Local horses dominated the action at Catterick winning five of the seven races on the card.

The Michael Dods' trained Spring Breeze was the star of the show, routing his rivals by seven lengths to nab a third course and distance success in the two-mile Esk Handicap.

"Spring Breeze may go hurdling now, he's schooled well over the jumps although still needs the blinds on," said the Denton-near-Darlington handler.

Earlier on in proceedings Malton-based Fayr Sky set the ball rolling when producing a tidy turn of foot to get off the mark at the third time of asking in the opening Swale Maiden Auction Stakes.

"She settled a whole lot better today and we'll look for a little nursery after this," explained trainer John Quinn.

Despite being friendless in the market Keys Of Cyprus, a half-brother to July Cup hero Continent, he made a belated winning debut in the Ouse Maiden Stakes.

The David Nicholls' three-year-old drifted like a barge from 9-2 to 6-1, but that didn't stop him taking the money in some style.

Nicholls' near neighbour, David Barron, sent out Undeterred to complete an impressive nine-day hat-trick when bolting away with the Nidd Classified Stakes.

Undeterred, twice at a winner at Hamilton over the past few days, made the opposition look like trees as he sailed to an effortless three-timer in the six-furlong contest.

Mark Johnston's excellent form continued when Love Palace made every yard of the running to capture the seven-furlong Derwent Handicap.

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