IT could easily be a case of third time lucky for Domino Dancer (2.10), a leading contender at Ayr in the opening two-year-old EBF Maiden Stakes.
Howard Johnson's juvenile has twice knocked on the door, most recently on a visit to Newcastle, when finishing second to Vital Equine, leaving 15 other juveniles toiling in behind.
One word of warning to anyone thinking of pitching the rent money on Domino Dancer because danger may emerge from Evens And Odds, said to be useful and from the same stable as last year's classy winner of the race, Amadeus Wolf.
The finale of the Paradigm Handicap might well be fought out between The Osteopath and Soto.
Having occupied third spot in a pretty hot contest at Thirsk on his reappearance, I feel the market will make Michael Dods' charge favourite to win the seven-furlong affair.
Once again caution is advised since The Osteopath appeared to need every inch of Thirsk's one-mile trip, whereas Soto (4.20), who is moving up from sprint distances, could have the edge on speed come the closing stages.
Mark Buckley does well with his small string, boding nicely for the prospects of Pevensey (4.05) in Nottingham's feature, the £14,600 Racing UK Handicap.
Pevensey, who provided Buckley with one of the most important successes of his career at York in 2005, shaped as if he was returning to something like his best when a close-up fourth at Windsor exactly a month ago.
One hour later Queen Jean (5.10) bids to build on her shock 40-1 Redcar comeback victory by beating off a maximum 17-strong field in the Lady Bay Handicap.
Seeing as the filly was totally disregarded in the betting market it was an amazing performance by Queen Jean, who was cantering all over the opposition from the minute the gates flashed open.
"She was a tiny two-year-old but has grown quite a bit over the winter," revealed owner John Dawson's racing manager John Reid when I quizzed him about the apparent improvement of Queen Jean.
By his own admission, Mark Johnston's horses aren't performing as consistently as he would like, nevertheless Sandown-bound Crime Scene (7.20) did nothing wrong when scoring on his Musselburgh return.
Crime Scene, a big bull of a colt with bags of scope to progress, seems sure to relish the step up in trip to a mile-and-quarter for the IG Index Handicap, a race in which the Middleham raider is expected to defy top-weight.
Tony McCoy's excellent book of rides at Wetherby's evening meeting includes Nice Horse (8.40) and Cross The Highman (9.10).
The in-form Nice Horse represents David Pipe, who has just taken over the reins from his recently-retired father, Martin, the multiple National Hunt champion trainer who is going to be a very hard to act to follow.
Cross The Highman needs to overcome a scary 646-day absence, however he was impressive when last seen out romping home at Worcester in August 2004, a facile win which hinted at better things to come.
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