RICHARD WHITAKER'S wretched campaign might at least end on a high note provided Steel Blue (1.55) comes good in the Dransfield Handicap on the second to last day of the flat turf racing season at Doncaster.

Whitaker, based at the village of Scarcroft between Wetherby and Leeds, has only sent out a handful of winners this year, way below his normal tally.

The stable's lack of form has also taken its toll on the Racing North ten-to-follow profit and loss account, since Steel Blue has failed to justify his inclusion with zero wins from nine starts.

But just as all hope seemed to have evaporated into thin air, Steel Blue came out of his corner throwing punches at Redcar last Monday, finishing a gallant runner-up in a highly competitive sprint.

Clearly Richard's three-year-old has not lived up to expectations, but now that Blue Steel is finally beginning to show us exactly what he is made of, this afternoon's last-gasp effort could put everything right in one single hammer blow.

Thanks mainly to wealthy patronage from Arab owners, Lambourn handler Marcus Tregoning possesses plenty of impressive firepower including Alrabab (3.05), successful in four of her five starts to date.

Sheikh Ahmed's filly has developed into a high-class ten-furlong performer, most recently routing a decent field at Leicester in a very fast time. Unfortunately I doubt if the local bookies will be over-keen at laying her to anything other than a relatively short starting price in the Auker Rhodes Stakes, a listed race well within her compass judged by the way she has progressed over the past few months.

Peter Harris never rushes his two-year-olds, a policy clearly to the liking of the late-maturing juvenile Alekhine (3.35), who made a winning debut at the course 14 days ago over seven furlongs.

The colt is a son of Soviet Star, Alexander Alekhine being a former Russian world chess champion. And greatness could be bestowed upon the selection, seemingly certain to be even better now he has been stepped up in trip to one mile.

Graham Lee's great run continued at Haydock yesterday, where he benefited from Tony Dobbin's injury, stepping in to partner the facile scorer, Bolshoi Ballet.

Lee should be in the money for a second day in a row, this time at Hexham courtesy of Del Trotter (3.25) in the Transcend Handicap Hurdle. Although Del Trotter kept on finding the frame towards the end of last season, he gave the impression that a long summer at grass might help him.

Small line-ups at Uttoxeter make for very low-grade stuff. In search of a little bit of value a few bob on The Fairy Flag (2.40), fit and in-form from the flat, could help pay the expenses.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.