Mountain can climb to top for Easterby - 19/04/04

Unlike most meetings at the Midlands course, which take place on Fibresand, tomorrow's programme is a turf-only card, which will suit Mick Easterby's gelding.

The Teletext Racing 'Hands and Heels' Apprentice Handicap, a race in which riders are permitted to carry whips but not to use them behind the saddle, is the target for Trouble Mountain, who finished third at Beverley, after being hampered by a runner in front of him, who stumbled badly.

Paul Mulrennan, Easterby's accomplished resident apprentice, again has the mount on Trouble Mountain, who is fancied to come through this test with flying colours.

Karl Burke has made a bright start to the campaign and the Middleham trainer can lift the La Dolce Vita Handicap with Platinum Pirate.

The three-year-old does not look the most straightfoward of horses, but he turned on the style at Redcar last week when running out a clear-cut winner. A 6lb penalty may not be enough to prevent him from completing a quick double. Apprentice Rory Moore again has the mount.

Richard Hughes is among the top jockeys in action at Southwell and it looks unlikely that he will return home empty-handed.

Hughes partners Hollow Jo in the National Secretary Day Handicap and can surely expect a good ride from John Jenkins' gelding, who was a most progressive performer last season.

Maria Bonita, who showed promise last season, is fancied to oblige for Seb Sanders in the Boston Marathon Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Further heavy rain could put tomorrow's race meeting at Newcastle in doubt.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong said: "We wouldn't want a great deal more rain and we have got some forecast.

"We've had 22 millimetres since yesterday morning.

"We are forecast to stay dry until about 3pm and then we are due to get some showers but they could be very hit and miss."

If racing goes ahead at Newcastle, Lanarkshire trainer Ian Semple has excellent prospects of winning the Weatherbys Insurance Handicap with Viewforth, the mount of Robert Winston.

The six-year-old made a bright start to the season when finishing fourth to Magic Glade on his reappearance at Musselburgh nine days ago.

The benefit of that outing should stand him in good stead tomorrow and Viewforth is expected to take plenty of catching.

Quiet Times gets my vote in the Sharp Minds Betfair Handicap over six furlongs.

Kevin Ryan's five-year-old, who has been in good form on the all-weather, ran well on his return to turf racing at Redcar last week. He should make a bold bid and provide Winston with good prospects of a double.

The Saltwell Signs Handicap over ten furlongs will take precious little winning and, such is the current well-being of John Quinn's horses, that it would be no surprise to see Jake Black take the spoils.

The four-year-old has won two races on the all-weather and also a hurdles event since he last appeared in a Flat race on turf.

Officials at Redcar will inspect the track at 9am tomorrow to assess the prospects for Wednesday's meeting.

A total of 38 millimetres of rain have fallen at the Cleveland track since Friday afternoon and more is forecast.

"We are certainly not raceable at present and need to dry up quite significantly," said clerk of the course John Gundill.

"We have had a significant amount of rain and the forecast is for heavy scattered showers, although it is dry bright and breezy at the moment,"

Heavy overnight rain caused the abandonment of this afternoon's racing at Hexham, where 29 millimetres of rain fell last night and waterlogged the course.

Tueday's tips:

Southwell

2.00 Platinum Pirate, 2.30 Ela Paparouna, 3.00 Hollow Jo, 3.30 Maria Bonita, 4.00 Silver Mascot, 4.30 Starry Mary, 5.00 Trouble Mountain (Nap).

Newcastle

2.20 Spirit of France, 2.50 Keelung, 3.20 Viewforth, 3.50 Quiet Times, 4.20 Jake Black, 4.50 Oh Golly Gosh.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Folkestone.

Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was: Grey Cossack (3.40 at Pontefract)

Updated: 12:34 Monday, April 19, 2004