OCEAN VICTORY'S winning streak show no signs of stopping at Haydock today, where the Bill Hogan Handicap looks at his mercy.

Jeremy Noseda's colt gave notice he might be something special by slamming a useful field of maidens at Lingfield last month. Perhaps even more significant was the flood of money that came for Ocean Victory (3.05) prior to the off, leaving the bookmakers licking their wounds in the aftermath of the facile triumph.

Connections were equally confident last time out at Epsom seven days ago and they were not let down by Ocean Victory, who justified 6-4 favouritism with a runaway pillar-to-post success.

The Official Handicapper has not had sufficient time to respond to the win and as a result the selection only has a 6lb penalty to shoulder, which by all accounts he should shrug off to complete a richly deserved hat-trick.

Having trailed in stone cold last, you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the experiment to step Bollin Jeannie (4.10) up from six furlongs to a mile at Doncaster in July simply did not work.

Tim Easterby's filly had previously run a blinder when fifth over the shorter of the two distances at Carlisle, a race that has subsequently worked out extremely well form-wise. Easterby has sensibly taken the hint and returned Bollin Jeannie to sprinting for the Gary Rimmer, a decision strongly fancied to pay dividends in the £5,700 event.

Tony Carroll made his name as a jump jockey and, generally speaking, it is the National Hunt sphere in which he has made his name since hanging up his boots and switching to the training ranks about five years ago.

But in this day and age when the prize money is so much better on the Flat, most trainers need to diversify and Carroll has grasped the nettle with the likes of the fast-improving speedster, Cerulean Rose, who has won her last four races, including at the Goodwood Festival.

Tony also has one or two fair stayers in his west-country yard, including Brighton-bound Compton Aviator (3.15), lining up for the mile-and-a-half Saffie Joseph-sponsored Showcase Handicap.

At first glance Carroll's seven-year-old seems to have a stiff task against some apparently more progressive younger horses, however Compton Aviator only has a feather-weight to carry and he could strike a blow for the older generation and oblige at potentially double-digit odds.

After Haydock has finished Darryll Holland will be nipping down the M6 to partner One Way Ticket (7.50) in the Renault Master Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton.

Having been edged out in three photo finishes on turf, One Way Ticket has not exactly had the rub of the green during 2003. No-nonsense handler Milton Bradley's response is to turn his gelding's attention to the Fibresand in the hope that the drop in class will do the trick.

One never quite knows how a horse will react for their first try on a man-made surface, crucially though there is no finer exponent of riding the sand than Holland, who possesses the perfect tactical brain to bring Bradley's shrewd plan to fruition.

* Mark Johnston's Attraction is the star turn in an 80-strong entry for the Group One Skybet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on October 2.

The daughter of Efisio is unbeaten in five starts this term, including the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, when accounting for Catstar by three lengths, and the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket last month, where she saw off her rivals in impressive style.

David Loder's Pearl Grey was second that day and she is entered at Newmarket along with Catstar, Cara Bella, Lake Charlotte, Lane County, Mansfield Park, Painted Moon, Queen Of Stars, Sundrop and Rosehearty.

Last year's renewal was won by top sprinter Airwave, while Russian Rhythm, a subsequent triple Group One winner, was second for Sir Michael Stoute.

This year Stoute has entered Esteemed Lady, while Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has seven entries including Follow, who won a maiden at Leopardstown in May.