FIRST-TIME blinkers will hopefully work the oracle for Mark Johnston’s Tartan Gigha in the tradersbettingexchange.co.uk Seaton Delaval Handicap at Newcastle.

The six-year-old has dropped like a stone in the handicap this season, and for good reason.

Having begun the campaign with a decent run in France and then a second place to Lowther in a Lincoln Trial, he has lost his way.

As a result his mark has slipped from 96 to 88 and he won off 100 at last year’s Derby meeting.

Johnston has called on his go-to man Silvestre de Sousa and he may bounce back at a nice price.

Parc De Launay can maintain his unbeaten record in the tradersbettingexchange.co.uk Novice Stakes.

The first race of the traditional threeday ’Pitmen’s Derby’ fixture at Gosforth Park has attracted a decent looking field for such a small prize, with all bar two of the seven runners having won a race and one of those is a debutant.

Trained by Tom Tate, Parc De Launay was sent off a pretty warm favourite for his debut at Ripon, principally on the basis that his homework had been very promising.

Bounced out of the stalls by Jamie Spencer, the Monsieur Bond colt showed plenty of early speed before accounting for a field of admittedly average juveniles by upwards of a length and a quarter.

Tate was slightly worried beforehand about running him on quickish ground so the recent rain in the north will not be a worry, and the way in which Jamie Spencer spoke about him afterwards suggested he can take the next step towards something better in his stride.

Roger Varian’s Kawssaj ran an eyecatching race on his first start at Haydock and must be backed in division one of the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Stakes at Warwick.

The Dubawi colt looked all over the winner before being outstayed over a mile by Ouija Board’s son Voodoo Prince.

Dropping back to seven furlongs looks a wise move and Varian will be upset if he fails to go one better.