MUSSELBURGH must pass a 7.30am inspection before racing is allowed to proceed, but if the frost does stay away it could open the door for World Vision (2.50) to end a long losing streak.
It's been nearly two years since he last got his head in front - a hard-fought half-length victory achieved over today's course and distance when the gelding was in the care of Ferdy Murphy.
Unfortunately, instead of building on that triumph, World Vision's fortunes went to pot and he's now joined Brian Storey in the hope the change of scenery will pep up the nine-year-old before Old Father Time has the final say.
Brian, who famously survived a series of ugly falls to steer many a winner home in these parts, prefers to train these days, and judged by World Vision's latest third to stablemate, Chevalier Errant, Storey has succeeded in sweetening up the selection.
Theoretically a 7lb turnaround in favour of World Vision shouldn't be sufficient to get his revenge, but I believe the return to two-and-a-half-miles will scupper Chevalier Errant, who ideally requires a stiffer test of stamina.
Punters unlucky enough to get their fingers burnt when a morning gamble went wildly astray on Nifty Roy (3.20) will be looking for a better show from the six-year-old.
Although the money was sunk without trace, there might have been a valid excuse as the ground that day at Kelso was dire due to the shed-load of rain which fell throughout the course of the meeting.
It's a fact that Nifty Roy's chase rating is 27lb higher than his lowly mark of 78 over hurdles.
It's a massive discrepancy, which Ian McMath intelligently seeks to exploit in the closing Scottish Handicap Hurdle.
A snapshot of Paparaazi's career shows he's fairly consistent, having won twice and been placed on eight other occasions, a record palpably superior to the majority of his rivals in Lingfield's Pontin's Claiming Stakes.
It's easy to dismiss his latest finish in fifth spot when running over seven furlongs, a trip woefully short considering he'd previously proved best at distances in excess of one mile.
Malton trainer Richard Fahey must have had his reasons for that unusual lapse of logic, but no harm was done and as Paparaazi (3.00) is now back at ten furlongs, it's time to pile in with only a bunch of has-beens to beat.
* Today's scheduled fixture at Fakenham has been frozen off after failing to pass yesterday's 3.30pm inspection
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article