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William Haggas improved Escayola out of all recognition in the last half of 2003.

He now has another prolific winner on his hands in the shape of Whispering Death, who bids for the four-timer in the PDS Handicap over a mile and a half at Newcastle today.

Named after former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding, the son of Pivotal has been extremely well placed by connections and notched three wins this month at Redcar (twice) and Catterick over a mile and six furlongs.

Although he looks sure eventually to be better suited by two miles, this stiff mile and a half on softish ground should make this a sufficient test of stamina and he showed he had no problems with dead ground at Catterick last weekend.

Once again he is the one progressive performer in a field of exposed handicappers and he looks sure to be thereabouts under Tony Culhane, who was in the saddle last weekend.

Mac Han should be suited by the easy conditions and should give a good account at reasonable odds in the Parkinson's Disease Society Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

From Eamon Tyrell's stable in Ireland, which had a Listed win at Hamilton last month, the six-year-old, who won in testing ground over hurdles last November, didn't get the best of runs in a muddling race over a mile and a half here last time.

However, with a few confirmed front-runners in the line-up, this race should develop into a sufficient test of stamina for the gelding, who certainly figures on a decent mark at present.

Cryfield handles cut in the ground and, although not one to be lumping on by any means, is the suggestion in the Parkinson's Disease Society Claiming Handicap over a mile.

Tim Easterby's team is in good shape and Robinzal, who should be all the better for a recent run after a break at Redcar, is fancied to go close in the Close House Country Club Handicap over the same trip.

At Nottingham Mark Johnston's progressive Sound Breeze looks the best bet on the card in the Eversheds Royal Standard Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

Unbeaten in three runs this season, the three-year-old shapes as though he will have no problems with this longer trip (backed up by pedigree) and he is taken to continue the stable's good recent run.

Sir Mark Prescott's Rock Dove, who was far from disgraced on her belated reappearance at York earlier this month, should appreciate the step up to six furlongs and is fancied to go well in the Oval Handicap.

Hughie Morrison is invariably a trainer to keep on the right side and his Castanza, a winner at Lingfield on soft ground in July, looks the one to be on in the Racing UK Apprentice Handicap over a mile.

At Bath Denis Coakley's Sirce, an ultra-consistent type with a good strike rate, should again run well in the noblepoker.com Handicap over the extended mile and three furlongs.

And Double M, who has slipped back to a fair mark and is better than the bare form of his last run, is a sporting selection at a big price in the Wick Apprentice Handicap over five and a half furlongs.