RIPON'S undulating home straight holds no fear for Steel Blue (3.30), fancied to out-speed his eight rivals in the Nick Wilmott-Smith Handicap.

Quite often the dips on the sprint track unbalance horses, but not previous course and distance scorer Steel Blue, who after a couple of pipe-openers now looks ready to strike.

Although the gelding was beaten into fourth by two of today's opponents, My Gacho and Lake Chini, when the trio clashed at Thirsk, there are genuine grounds to believe he can reverse the form.

The principal reason for thinking Steel Blue can get his revenge revolves around the fact the capable apprentice, Michael Stainton is able to take an invaluable 5lbs of the six-year-olds' back.

The column went nap on Bright Sun (3.00) at Redcar a week ago, but Nigel Tinkler's raider didn't fire, finishing a disappointing third behind the heavily-backed gamble, King Of The Moors.

In reality there were valid excuses since the selection didn't look totally wound up, plus the tacky underfoot conditions probably didn't play to his strengths either.

It's interesting to note that Bright Sun actually won the 2006 running of the Rock At The Races Handicap, therefore he might be worth another chance at a venue which clearly suits his run-style.

Frankie Dettori, winner of both the English and French Derby's on what was a memorable weekend for the ubiquitous Italian, comes back to earth with bump in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap.

Worth peanuts compared to the afore-mentioned Classic double, the bread-and-butter stuff aboard individuals like Calabash Cove (4.00) is still very much part of Frankie's daily routine.

Carrying the colours of Goldophin, he didn't fail favourite backers when taking the money in emphatic fashion at Lingfield, a ruthless performance which suggested there was plenty more fuel in the tank.

Steel Blue's handler, Richard Whitaker, will be tanking down from Ripon to Southwell's evening meeting in the hope he and jockey Michael Stainton can also collect with Nevada Desert (8.10).

Nevada Desert, a lovely big flashy chestnut, is quite a fizzy type, nonetheless when not pulling like mustang he's a very capable sort between a mile, and a mile-and-quarter.

Generally speaking Richard keeps him to the turf, but when switched to the all-weather circuit he's particularly effective on the man-made fibre-sand.

Brompton-on-Swale based Ann Stokell, who both trains and rides Pawan (8.40), seems to have her stable stalwart back on song in readiness for the Ladies Day Handicap over seven furlongs.

Pawan appeared to be on the decline until bouncing back to take second spot at Brighton last week, an encouraging effort that suggests they're about to revisit the winners' enclosure.