HI DANCER (4.30) has found an ideal opportunity to record his second course-and-distance success of the season at Redcar.

Patrick Haslam's superb stable servant, a winner of seven of his 24 starts, previously posted a hard-fought track and trip victory on a soft surface in mid-June.

Although today's lightning fast underfoot conditions couldn't be more different, Hi Dancer handles quick ground with equal dexterity and represents solid each-way value in the long-distance contest.

Humping top-weight to victory is not going to be an easy task for Dakota Rain (3.00), but the handicapper clearly believes he's the best horse in the line-up and so do I.

The Jennie Candlish-trained five-year-old has never been in better heart, securing three of his last four races, including most recently when trouncing Rainbow Fox at Newcastle.

The quality of that performance became self-evident after the latter brushed aside a useful field on his very next outing when triumphing in a decent Hamilton sprint.

The talented young rider, Liam Treadwell, gets on swell with Dakota Rain, and given he can lighten the gelding's load by 3lbs, it'll be no surprise if the pair are once again to the forefront of affairs.

The closing Class 5 Apprentice Handicap is a near-impossible puzzle to solve, therefore Aussie Blue (5.00) can only be regarded as a tentative choice.

Siding with youth is often a wise policy in such competitive heats, which points the finger directly to Aussie Blue (5.00), one of few three-year-olds in the 14-runner line-up.

Richard Whitaker's representative has been knocking on the door of late, notably when narrowly beaten in a bunch finish at the course on August 1.

Considering Aussie Blue was under a length behind the winner that day, he doesn't need to make a quantum leap of improvement to finally shed his maiden tag.

Although Mark Johnston's Gin Genereux (2.20) has been penalised 6lbs for last week's Wolverhampton romp, the extra weight isn't likely to stop the Greg Fairley-ridden colt in Warwick's opening Nursery.

North Yorkshire to Salisbury is a long and expensive hike, therefore the owners of Land 'N Stars (4.40) will be hoping for suitable recompense in the Persian Punch Conditions Stakes. Prize-money goes down to fifth place, so with only five facing the starter, trainer Richard Fahey's trek looks worth the risk.