NOT since the days of Michael Roberts has South Africa produced such a successful jockey as the apprentice find of the season, Lisa Jones, scheduled to partner Its Ecco Boy (2.45) at Newcastle this afternoon, writes Colin Woods.

With winter fast approaching, Lisa will find the Tyneside venue a little chillier than the weather she is used to back home, but that shouldn't stop her and Its Ecco Boy warming to their task in the six-furlong Levy Board Handicap.

Two outings ago at Nottingham the combination asserted impressively to run away with a similar standard event in an encouragingly fast time. And they arguably did even better when participating in a stronger race at Windsor last time out, where off a 7lb higher mark Its Ecco Boy was only just touched off in a three-way thrilling photo-finish.

Bryan Smart's Bond Brooklyn let us down for the nap selection yesterday, but if at first you don't succeed then try, try again.

Smart despatches Wilderbrook Lahri (3.55) from his Sutton Bank base for the Nitex Computer Claiming Handicap, a race that, with all due respect to the horses taking part, is nothing short of a woeful affair.

The certain favourite is Jeremy Glover's recent Leicester scorer Kelseas Kolby, who appears to be worth taking on at short price, having looked to be a somewhat tricky conveyance.

Wilderbrook Lahri has one or two bits of form which suggest he could take a hand, most notably when runner-up to Rock City at Carlisle. The four-year-old can also be excused his latest flop when he had no chance from a completely hopeless wide draw.

Smart could easily initiate an across-the-card double by taking the opening David Ashley Stakes at Nottingham with Bonne de Fleur (2.25).

Bonne de Fluer has been an absolute model of consistency, never once out of the frame in six starts.

She already boasts one track and trip victory, is not harshly treated by the conditions of the race, and by a process of elimination seems bound to go very close.

In the Browne Jacobsen Handicap the lightly- campaigned three-year-old, Sea Holly (3.35), has the perfect profile to make a big impact.

Unlike most of the field George Margarson's imposing gelding enjoyed a lengthy summer holiday and comes into the mile-and-a-quarter contest as fresh as paint.

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