BACKERS sweet on the prospects of Jellytot (2.40) may well have reason to celebrate come the climax the Redcar Racecourse Conference Nursery.

Strictly on the book, Jellytot is well held by The Terrier to whom he could only finish fourth when the pair clashed over course and distance at the last meeting.

But, as in many walks of life, things aren't exactly as they seem and on that occasion the selection ran with the choke out and used far too much fuel in the first four furlongs of the contest.

By contrast, The Terrier was waited with in rear and still had bags of energy to spare when required at the business end of the race. In order to try and solve the problem York-based handler, Declan Carroll, has addressed the matter by booking ace hold-up jockey, Kerrin McEvoy.

McEvoy has the happy knack of being able to get his horses settled by riding them on a long rein, which should - with luck - help Jellytot to be going forwards, rather than backwards, during the closing stages of the five-furlong dash.

Mark Johnston, responsible for that great old warhorse Double Trigger, would love nothing more than to land the trophy named in the flashy chestnut's honour, awarded to the winner of the one-mile-one-furlong EBF Maiden at 3.10.

The Middleham trainer has a strong hand of two-year-olds at present, so the fact he's opted to enter Regal Connection (3.10) in the event suggests he really does mean business.

Although Regal Connection appeared to perform pretty well when third in a far stronger race at York last time out, the clock showed she was, in actual fact, a little bit below par.

It would be wrong to construe the Knavesmire speed figures as a negative considering the daughter of Deputy Commander still ran within a couple of pounds of her previous second placing on a visit to Nottingham, form which puts her head and shoulders above this afternoon's rivals.

With 17 facing the starter for the redcarracing.co.uk Selling Handicap, only a buffoon would be too dogmatic about the predicted outcome of the mile-and-a-quarter low-grade affair.

Nonetheless a winner must be found and Dalida (4.10) is my idea of a decent value wager.

Patrick Haslam has always believed Dalida capable of picking up prize-money and there was certainly merit in nabbing the runners-up spot over the sticks at Sedgefield late last month.

Dalida's pedigree is far more suited to operating on the Flat, therefore this switch back to the level might easily afford the daughter of Pursuit Of Love an excellent opportunity to finally break her duck.

Some thoroughbreds are a total law unto themselves, a comment that undoubtedly applies to the recalcitrant Snow Bunting (5.10).

Only Snow Bunting knows whether or not he's in a going mood, however if Leanne Kershaw's mount happens to be in the right frame of mind, the inconsistent yet able sprinter is perfectly capable of romping away the September Apprentice Handicap.

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