MR RIGSBY'S participation in the two-year-old selling race (1.50) at Wolverhampton brings back marvellous memories of comic legend Leonard Rossiter, who played the landlord of the same name in the TV sitcom, Rising Damp.

Rossiter was a method actor known to seek perfection in every part he played, so the great man would have been delighted with Mr Rigsby's 100 per cent record.

True to form there wasn't a hint of stage fright when Mr Rigsby notched a winning course debut, neither has trainer Paul Howling made the follow-up lines too difficult for the selection's second start, especially with Kieren Fallon booked to ride.

Patrick Haslam tends to bring his youngsters along slowly, although perhaps even his patience is beginning to wear a bit thin with Whipper In (2.20).

The Foxhound filly has been beaten on all five career outings, but at least she's edging closer to that vital first success judging by her latest excellent second placing to a smart juvenile of Kevin Ryan's, North Walk.

Somewhat surprisingly Whipper In is still only rated 54, a generous mark off which she appears the proverbial "good thing" for division one of the five-furlong Weatherbys Bank Nursery.

Division two of the contest looks much harder to crack, with several of the entrants quite closely matched.

Amber Glory, Tombalina, and Lucayos (2.50) are all in with a shout, having finished runner-up last time out. Consequently making a choice is far from easy, but Lucayos just gets the nod by virtue of his versatility.

Heidi Sweeting's son of Bahamian Bounty prevailed in a similar standard fast ground Bath event in October, then clocked a virtually identical speed figure to take second spot in heavy conditions at Yarmouth.

Lucayos clearly handles any sort of surface, which strongly suggests the switch to the polytrack should not hinder him one jot in pursuit of further success at the Midlands venue.

Middleham handler Chris Thornton, out of luck with Saturday's heavily-backed Doncaster November Handicap favourite, Let's Roll, has a smidgen of compensation on the horizon via Intervac Boy (4.20).

Intavac Boy is one of those infuriating thoroughbreds capable of running a cracker one day, then a stinker the next. He was in good order when finally getting his head in front at Newcastle a month ago, an initial triumph that should provide a much-needed confidence booster.

Despite the relatively short space of only seven days since Up The Pub (1.30) won at Chepstow, he's fancied to complete a quick-fire double by clinching Lingfield's Oxted Veterinary Handicap Chase.

Robert Alner's seven-year-old appeared to win with a couple of aces up his sleeve on that occasion, a theory that if proving correct should ensure a bold show for the three-miler.

* Today's meeting at Bangor has been abandoned due to water-logging.

* Carlisle has been forced to abandon three hurdle races and a bumper at its meeting on Sunday.

The wet weather, which led to the abandonment of Monday's meeting, means the hurdles course is still waterlogged.

With further rain forecast, the Jockey Club inspectorate agreed the hurdles track will not be raceable in time for the weekend.

Instead, the British Horseracing Board has created three extra chases. The six-race card begins at 12.50pm and concludes at 3.40pm.

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