BACKERS of Waterberg at Carlisle can take considerable comfort from the fact that Richard Johnson's mount won on the card precisely 12 months ago to the day.

Waterberg clearly relishes the testing nature of the Cumbrian track, which features a severe climb up to the winning post over the final half-mile. But the clincher in terms of a prospective punt has to be the state of the ground, currently described as good to firm in places.

Henry Daly's eight-year-old had a fantastic time last season, winning five of his seven races, mostly on fairly quick surfaces. But his efforts this term have been lamentable, picking up just a smattering of place money from a handful of outings.

In his defence, Waterberg has been encountering rain-sodden turf for virtually the entire winter period, conditions he appears not to have been handling with even a modicum of efficiency.

There will be no such excuses this afternoon because there'll be hardly any juice left in the ground.

Lenny Lungo's team had been flying until the middle of February when he had to shut up shop for a few days in response to a troublesome bout of coughing at his Carrutherstown headquarters.

One of the horses seemingly affected by the bug was On The Day (2.10), pulled up on his latest sortie at Ayr in January, when he reportedly finished distressed.

Unforeseen respiratory problems are often responsible for such predicaments and it does appear as if On The Day was one of the initial horses in the yard to be adversely affected.

If that was the case, logic suggests he will be one of the first to recover, and in view of his previously encouraging form he is fancied to come good in the three-mile Sark Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

There's some good sport on the Flat at Southwell where Blue Emperor (2.00) is a confident selection in the opener.

Blue Emperor is trained on the track by Paul Blockley, who recently renewed his licence following a long spell in the wilderness. Paul introduced his two-year-old at Doncaster last weekend, when the 10,000 guineas son of Groom Dancer created a favourable impression by claiming third spot.

Blockley's youngster was pouring on the pressure at the end of that contest and in another 50 yards might well have won. Since the fibresand will test Blue Emperor's stamina even further, he looks an ideal candidate to score at only the second time of asking.

Barry Hills tends to use his sons, Michael and Richard, to ride most of his horses, but while they are away at the Dubai World Cup meeting Tony Culhane's services have been called upon to partner Dancing Key (3.45) at the Midlands venue.

Dancing Key is not only relatively well-treated judged on her two-year-old form for the Batchelors Mushy Pea Fillies' Handicap, she's also had a spin on the all-weather in order to improve her overall level of fitness.

* Trainer Clive Cox opened his account for the new turf season on the Flat when Lago D'Orta took the feature race at Leicester, the seven-furlong Tote Placepot Stakes for three-year-olds.

The 11-1 shot confirmed the promise of his three placed runs as a two-year-old by stretching away from joint-favourites High Reach and Grand Passion to score cosily in the hands of Dane O'Neill

''That's brilliant. I'm delighted for the owner Dennis Shaw as it's his first winner,'' said the trainer. ''He's a really nice horse, very genuine, and hopefully will go on from here.''

Cox added: ''I'm very happy with the strength of the stable this year. My horses will improve for a run.''

Pat Eddery rode one of his masterful waiting-in-front races on John Dunlop's four-year-old filly Living Daylights to win the Greyhound Handicap over 1 miles.

The daughter of Night Shift cut little ice in four outings last season, but looked an improved performer as she saw off the challenge of Summer Bounty, who came from a fair way back to throw down a challenge.

Harry Dunlop, in his new role as his father's assistant at Arundel, said impending motherhood could have contributed to the improvement.

''Hopefully she's in foal to Averti and she could continue to race until the beginning of July.''

Favourite backers got off to a good start in the opening Keythorpe Maiden Fillies Stakes over seven furlongs when Tease maintained Richard Hannon's good run by justifying solid market support.

The daughter of Green Desert had a clear advantage approaching the final furlong but in the end she scrambled home by a head.

* The going remains good on all three courses at Aintree as watering continues ahead of next week's Martell Cognac Grand National meeting.

''We have been watering for between 12 and 14 hours each day, putting on 350 gallons of water per minute as we continue to aim to produce going no faster than good for the meeting,'' said clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch.

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