SCOTT'S VIEW, one of the highest-rated horses ever to run at Musselburgh, can look forward to bagging some more silverware by landing the Willie Park Trophy at the east of Scotland track.

Having won no less than eight races in 2002, Scott's View (3.30) has found the going far tougher this year as a result of his heady handicap mark of 107, which effectively kept him out of the winners' enclosure despite several near-misses over recent weeks.

Such boom and bust scenarios are quite common in the racing world, although there does seem every prospect that the famine is about to come to an end because according to the Official Handicapper Scott's View has a minimum of 10lb in hand over his rivals in the two-mile contest. There's no question that the main danger to the selection is Misternando, currently on the threshold of collecting the Channel 4 Trophy for winning the most races in 2004.

In the short space of six months Mick Channon's admirably tough and consistent gelding has totted up a remarkable nine successes, including last time out Newbury where he just got the best of a blanket three-way photo finish. Kieren Fallon's journey north should not be in vain as he partners the likely favourite in the Showcase Handicap, Escayola (2.55).

The Willie Haggas-trained three-year-old has done nothing but improve all season and with Fallon doing the steering the combination are unlikely to make any mistakes against a field of basically thoroughly exposed stayers. Andy Crook can't seem to do much right at present, but there could be hope on the horizon if Thesaurus (4.00) returns to anything like his best form in the Balcarres Handicap.

Twice a winner over nine furlongs, Crook's four-year-old has always shaped as if middle distances would suit.

Andy appears to have taken the hint and now tries Thesaurus at mile-and-a-half for the first time, a ploy fancied to work the oracle, especially as Paddy Aspell takes a valuable 5lb of the Middleham gelding's back.

Surely jump racing at Kempton cannot survive much longer, the course suffering from permanently fast ground and as a consequence precious few runners in the races over fences.

The action over the smaller obstacles has fared a little better, tempting Bed Bug (1.30) out of hibernation for the opening Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson's five-year-old has always been held in reasonable regard and with the trainer's fine reputation for getting his horses in A1 nick following a summer at grass, Bed Bug is worthy of the utmost respect.

Dual Grand National winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who was on the verge of handing in his licence a couple of years ago due to dwindling stable strength, has made a spirited comeback this term knocking in winners up and down the length and breadth of the country.

Nigel has picked out a fairly soft affair for his useful chaser Lord Maizey (2.45) to make his long-awaited reappearance at Newton Abbot, a shrewd piece of placing expected to reap handsome dividends in the £7,000 William Hill Handicap Chase.

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