PLATEAU (4.40) will be doing his level best to bag the six-furlong £20,000 Betfred Handicap this afternoon.

In a break from tradition due to rebuilding work at Doncaster, Southwell stages the first Flat meeting on the grass and it seems as if trainer David Nicholls has found the ideal opening for Plateau.

Alive to the possibility of getting a good blow into his horse by contesting an all-weather race, Nicholls took the seven-year-old to Lingfield last week and must have been pleasantly surprised when the selection occupied third spot.

It almost goes without saying Plateau will strip fitter for the outing and there's also the added advantage of receiving weight all-round from his eight rivals.

The mile-and-a-half Conditions Stakes should go to Mark Johnston's new recruit Shalapour (2.20), who finished third in the 2005 Irish Derby when trained by John Oxx.

Johnston has a history of acquiring individuals from Oxx and doing well with them on this side of the Irish Channel, a trend set to continue with Shalapour, the likely short-priced favourite for the opener.

Team Johnston have another potential penalty kick via Street Warrior (3.30) in the seven-furlong Maiden Stakes.

Street Warrior was previously in the hands of Clive Cox when placed at Redcar and Newbury. Cox did little wrong with the son of Royal Applause, although the fact remains Johnston will probably do even better.

Top bet at Newbury is Winsley (3.10), fancied to capture the Brown Chamberlain Trophy.

Winsley, whose half-brother Lyes Green scored at Ludlow yesterday, has been a model of consistency, not once finishing out of the first three on his most recent five starts.

Perhaps the really compulsive reason to back him stems from the handicapper's decision to leave Winsley on the same rating (116) as when third to a couple of smart cookies, Bob The Builder and Spring Lover, 44 days ago.

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