RACCOON (3.10) could be the one to help pay the afternoon's expenses on a competitive seven-race card at Redcar.

It seems like the cloud which has hung like a sickening pall over David Barron's stable for much of the summer has finally lifted, enabling his horses to make some sort of return to form.

Barron's Raccoon is a prime example, seeing as the five-year-old gelding had been badly out of sorts all year prior to his second placing behind Blackheath at Hamilton a fortnight ago.

It's impossible to interpret that encouraging effort as anything other than a positive sign in preparation for his tilt at the six-furlong Constant Security Handicap, a race well within Raccoon's compass now that he's slumped significantly down the ratings.

Even though Great Chieftain (2.10) has been sidelined for 101 days, it shouldn't prevent the son of Lend A Hand capturing the opening Cockle Maiden Stakes.

Richard Fahey's two-year-old showed more than a modicum of promise when fourth to Clare Hills at Carlisle in May. A three-month break will have done the selection no harm whatsoever, in fact he'll almost certainly be a far stronger individual after his time out of the firing line.

The presence of Kilbarri (2.40) in the Pertemps Nursery could spell big trouble for the local bookies.

Mark Johnston's youngsters are currently enjoying a purple patch and have been hitting the target with alarming regularity as far as the layers have been concerned.

Kilbarri, by the mighty Zafonic out of a Kris mare, has improved with all three of his runs so far, a signal that he is about to strike in the seven-furlong, £5,000 contest.

Disappointingly only six face the starter for the £8,500 Marcus Design Classified Stakes, a tight little heat with none of the sextet devoid of any chance.

I'm not sure it's sensible policy to invest but if a gun was put to my head then the cash would be on the useful but wildly inconsistent Flur Na H Alba (4.10).

On his penultimate outing John Quinn's sprinter thumped a fair field at Nottingham, only to return to his mulish ways with a lacklustre performance when visiting Catterick eight days ago.

Although forecast thunderstorms could put a spanner in the works of those trainers expecting fast ground at Carlisle, if the rain does stay away Island Prince (2.30) must enter calculations.

Ann Duffield's juvenile accounted for a couple of very decent types when scraping home by a short head on his most recent trip to the track. That was over the minimum distance, whereas Island Prince now steps up to six-furlongs, which if logic prevails must be far more in the colt's favour.

Mick Easterby generally squeezes at least one victory per year out of Golden Chance (5.00), fancied to take the money in the closing Clam Handicap.

The fuel gauge quickly fell to empty when Golden Chance tried a mile-and-three-quarter on his latest foray at the course. He clearly didn't stay the trip and will be much happier now that his suspect stamina will not be under the microscope over two furlongs less.

* Mick Channon could give his unbeaten ante-post 1000 Guineas favourite Flashy Wings a surprise outing in Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

Channon has the top two in the betting for next year's Newmarket Classic and may strike while the iron is hot with the filly and save second favourite Silca's Sister for late season targets such as the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes.

Channon said: ''We are in the business of winning races and she is in fantastic form."