REDCAR'S meeting is under threat from possible waterlogging, but if the fixture passes this morning's 8am inspection the soft ground shouldn't hinder Etoile Russe (2.40).

Patrick Haslam's representative enjoyed a profitable winter and springtime jumps' campaign, initially scoring at Sedgefield on February 6 when underfoot conditions were similarly testing.

Etoile Russe's latest success came more recently on a money-spinning visit to Wetherby 11 days ago, a triumph which demonstrated the four-year-olds' versatility because the ground was officially described as "good to firm".

Clearly at home in fair weather or foul, the selection holds every chance for the 17-runner Racing UK Handicap, a contest much bigger on quantity than overall quality.

Karl Burke is just beginning to unleash some of his superior firepower, a remark that applies to Zarabad (3.40), engaged in the John Smith's Straight Mile Championship Qualifier.

Formerly with Sir Michael Stoute, Burke consigned Zarabad to the unkindest cut of all soon after joining the yard, the aforementioned gelding operation designed to help the new inmate keep his mind on the job in hand.

It's too early to tell if the relatively simply surgical procedure has had the desired effect, however, the selection ran with a good deal of promise when fifth at Thirsk a little earlier this month.

Burke could also be on the mark with Tequila Sheila (5.10), for whom Darryll Holland's booking must be regarded as a positive in the closing six furlong dash.

Like a centre-forward desperately short of goals, Holland's confidence appeared shot to bits by the end 2005, but to his credit he's bounced back in great style with a glut of winners recently.

Tequila Sheila's latest Ripon second placing was nothing short of miraculous since she raced hard up against the stands' rail, where the ground is proven to be significantly slower than the far side.

With virtually no draw bias on the straight track at today's venue, Burke's filly will not be faced with such a massive disadvantage, a factor that leads me to believe she's worth a small each-way investment.

With Alan Swinbank's team on a roll, Formal Decree (4.10) might well be the one to have his head in front come the finale the John Garbutt Handicap.

Formal Decree is almost a winner without a penalty having been a shade unlucky to be beaten into second spot by Richard Fahey's Flying Clarets on his Ripon seasonal reappearance.

Jockey Ted Durcan encountered traffic problems at the two-furlong pole that day, prior to switching his mount left and steaming home with a rare old rattle to get within a neck of Flying Clarets at the line.

No problems with excess water at Bath - Britain's highest racetrack, where Linda Green (3.00) enters calculations for the Extra Smooth Handicap.

Owned by the wisecracking comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, Linda Green won twice at the course in 2005, an excellent record she so nearly supplemented last time out when touched off by the bang in form, Cashel Mead.

In the light of the knowledge Cashel Mead went in again at Nottingham on Saturday, Linda Green's performance has taken on even more shine, a fact the high street bookies will doubtless bear in mind when chalking up this morning's prices.

The first prize for Musselburgh's feature race, the £8,000 Talk 107 Handicap, seems set to remain in Scotland if as expected Balwearie (8.30) continues on a sharp upward curve. Linda Perratt, who trains on the other side of the country at Ayr, produced Balwearie in tip-top shape to collect on his Newcastle comeback in April.

Considering Linda has a reputation for not revving her horses up after their winter holidays, it was a sparkling effort by the five-year-old, who goes particularly well for Royston French.

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