THE pitter-patter of rain at Chester yesterday must have been music to the ears of backers waiting to take the plunge on the Mark Johnston-trained filly, Chantress (5.00).

At the start of the two-day meeting the ground was described as good to firm, but thanks to some very grey skies the surface has eased for today's six-race card.

Although Chantress won when it was very fast underfoot at Carlisle in June, her action to my way of thinking was much more in keeping with a horse likely to appreciate some juice in the turf.

We shall soon know if that theory holds any water since the three-year-old must account for some very useful rivals if she is to take the £20,000 Business Link Handicap at the famous Roodeye.

In the Chester Chronicle-sponsored Showcase Handicap the curiously named Flur Na H Alba (3.15) makes plenty of appeal.

Perhaps of Gaelic origin, Ian Semple's Scottish raider showed he is well-suited by going helter-skelter around a left-handed track when picking up a similar contest at Ayr this season.

Flur Na H Alba has subsequently run with credit when chasing home the much-improved Blue Spinnaker over a mile at Haydock. It was a good effort by the selection, but the way he failed to make any headway in the closing stages only served to further confirm that seven furlongs is Flur Na H Alba's optimum trip.

Apprentice find of the year, Lisa Jones, makes her way to Sandown, where she has been booked to partner Firebrand (3.05) in the feature race, the £25,000 Littlewoods Summer Handicap.

Firebrand is on a retrieval mission to the popular Esher venue, having been turned over when odds-on last time out at Windsor. Lisa wasn't in the saddle and in all probability has been called up in order to make her 5lb allowance count in what appears to be a fiercely competitive affair.

Tom Eaves, another young and very talented jockey goes in search of more winners aboard Lucayan Dancer (2.55) at Ayr.

Formerly with Ed Dunlop, Lucayan Dancer's switch to Jim Goldie's yard has yet to produce the desired effect. But he has slipped a few pounds down the ratings, which along with Tom's handy 5lb claim might just make all of the difference between victory and defeat in the Renault Van Handicap.

Gerard Butler takes scrupulous care when placing his horses so the decision to send Compton Earl (4.35) on the long journey up from his Oxforshire base is fancied to reap handsome dividends in the Giles Corporate Maiden Stakes.

* Kieren Fallon closed on another double century when completing a 48.5-1 treble, highlighted by Latin Review's success in the European Breeders Fund Combermere Fillies' Stakes, at Chester yesterday, writes RAY GILPIN.

Trained by Alan Jarvis for his wife Ann, Latin Review quickened through a gap on the rails turning into the straight to sweep by Saristar and she ran right to the line to beat Dolce Piccata by two lengths.

Fallon, who ended the day on the 187-winner mark, was cautioned for careless riding following an incident when sixth-placed Noyac suffered interference soon after the start.

Jarvis runs the smart River Belle in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday when she will be ridden by Kevin Darley as Fallon is claimed to ride for Sir Michael Stoute in France.

Fallon opened his scoring when he sent Brian Meehan's Fast Heart into the lead about a furlong out in the Rectangle Group Nursery, and kept him right up to his work in the last half furlong to just hold the strong challenge from Multiple Choice by a head.

The Fallon treble was sealed when Mick Easterby's Hills Of Gold followed up his success at Beverley on Saturday in the concluding Saffie Joseph & Sons Handicap