FUTURE'S DREAM (4.30) heads to Haydock with every chance of repeating last season's impressive course and distance victory.

The Middleham-trained four-year-old was a 33-1 rag when visiting the track in 2006, but far from running like a no-hoper, Future's Dream cut down his rivals with a scintillating turn of foot.

It's easy to excuse the selection's latest dismal effort in Ascot's 28-runner Victoria Cup - Karl Burke's gelding had zero chance from a dreadful draw in stall 1. The draw will not have anything like such a significant effect for the Renault Vans Stakes, in which Future's Dream is fancied to recapture the form of his excellent March and April Southwell brace.

Top-weight should be no barrier to Cinematic (5.05), provided he transfers his smart all-weather efforts to turf for the Stoneacre Handicap.

After a disappointing 2006 campaign, Jim Boyle's raider is now back on song and shapes as if he'll take some stopping in the mile-and-a-quarter event.

It might be worth following any money for Balakiref (6.10) in the closing George Duffield Apprentice Handicap.

Twelve months ago the evergreen eight-year-old plundered the prize for Michael Dods, who has taken the trouble of booking a top young rider, Jamie Hamblett, for the five-furlong sprint.

Ideally Balakiref needs a slightly softer surface, but equally important is a fast early pace because he loves to swoop when other legs are beginning to wilt inside the final 100 yards.

Team Dods may also be in business 20 minutes later courtesy of Society Music (6.30) at Pontefract's evening meeting.

Society Music ran respectably when fifth on her return just under five weeks ago when most of the Denton inmates were still not fully wound up after their winter break. That situation no longer applies to many of his horses and the five-year-old mare could prove a solid each-way betting proposition.

Mark Johnston isn't letting the grass grow under Colarado Rapid's feet, the son of Barathea reappearing just days after being beaten into third spot at Thirsk.

Amazingly Colarado Rapid (8.00) was sent off at 10-11 in a 17-runner handicap that day, crazily short odds for what was a richly competitive contest.

Any punter daft enough to take such poor value had it coming and let's hope similar lunacy doesn't prevail.