TOP-WEIGHT is unlikely to hinder Go Tech (3.30) in his ambition to lift Thirsk's feature race, the mile-and-a-half Hambleton Cup.

Despite a rather high knee action, Tim Easterby's gelding relishes the prevailing fast ground brought about the beautiful weather which has bathed us in hot sunshine during the past few days.

Admittedly its been a while since Go Tech has hit the target, however there was no mistaking the promise of his latest run when so nearly collaring Suits Me in a driving finish at Ripon.

David Allan's partner never flinched despite being put under maximum pressure that day, something which sets him apart from those thoroughbreds prone to throwing in the towel once the whip is up.

It's hard to imagine Jim Goldie's Esoterica (3.00) won't cope with a 6lbs penalty for the ERA Locks Handicap, given the emphatic manner with which he won at Redcar 48 hours ago.

Goldie can do little wrong at present, a trend Esoterica maintained in no uncertain fashion by handing out a three-length drubbing to Tour d'Amour at the Cleveland seaside venue.

You just can't whack a high draw on the straight track, a point punters need to factor into calculations when trying to get the measure of the bookmakers for closing six-furlong Handicap.

Thirteen runners go to post and it is Steel Blue (5.10) who has been lucky enough to bag pole position, hard against the favoured stands' side fence.

Richard Whitaker's gelding ran a shocker at Hamilton last week but we're all entitled to a bad day at the office now and again and he's too good a sprinter to be written off for one below-par effort.