DAVID BARRON'S long-distance forays are few and far between, but when the Maunby handler does travel his horses to the likes of Ascot, he always means business.

Twice last term Barron's horsebox made a left turn on to the southbound carriageway of the A1 with Muja Farewell (2.30) aboard, and both times she returned with the booty.

First stop was Windsor in June, where the speedy filly toyed with her rivals.

Then it was off to Newmarket in September, claiming a far more valuable nursery handicap against some strongly-fancied local rivals.

Today Muja Farewell faces her biggest challenge to date in the £25,000 Palan Handicap, although judged on her sparkling return at York last Saturday, when finishing fifth in a similarly competitive event, she is definitely up for the money.

It's simply impossible to keep Mark Johnston out of the news at present.

As if three winners at Royal meeting wasn't sufficient, he has stayed down for a fifth day with another imposing battalion of raiders from Kingsley House.

Johnston has a brace of useful fillies entered in the opening Fern Hill Rated Stakes, Early Morning Mist (2.00) plus Love Everlasting.

Preference is marginally for the former, who deserves to win having run three game races in defeat so far this season.

Next is the turn of the colts, Saratov (3.00), Attache, and Down To The Woods, in the later Listed Milcars New Stakes.

The official ratings suggest Attache has the better prospects, especially on the back of his latest battling success at Doncaster.

In direct contrast, Saratov (3.00) flopped when last of seven at Newmarket 13 days ago.

However, I feel the latter simply had an off day and am therefore prepared to give the long-striding son of Rudimentary another opportunity to repeat the turn of foot he demonstrated when slamming a decent field at York in May.

Either Julius or hold-up merchant Sharp Play (3.35) could put the icing on the cake by taking the £40,000 Showcase Handicap back to Middleham.

The latter was a desperately unlucky loser in the equivalent event 12 months ago, coming from a country mile back to snatch second spot, having been set an impossible task by Richard Hills, who for once overdid the waiting tactics.

If you're thinking of taking in some sea air at Redcar, don't forget to have an each-way bet on Barningham (2.55) in the Tees Components Handicap over one-mile-and-six-furlongs.

He pulled so hard for his head at Beverley last time it's not surprising there was nothing left in the tank when John Reid went for broke inside the final furlong.

Paul Eddery has the job of settling Barningham this time, a relatively unexposed three-year-old compared with the opposition, most of whom have to give him weight as well as age.

Wilf Storey's stable is emerging from a spell in the wilderness, caused in no small part by the temporary closure of his gallops due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

One of his stalwarts over the past few years has been Colway Ritz (3.30), now sufficiently low in the ratings to regain the winning thread in the Tetley's Bitter Handicap.

Promising debutant Leo's Luckyman (2.10) appears to be head and shoulders above the opposition in the first at Ayr, the seven-furlong EBF Maiden Stakes.

The son of Woodman might well start at odds-on and if you're seeking better value, Peppiatt (3.15) looks the answer in the Bonusprint Handicap.

Neville Bycroft's seven-year-old has shown a liking for both course and distance in previous seasons and, more crucially, there is positive evidence his old sparkle has been rekindled following a cracking second to Future Prospect at Beverley.

Canny Patrick Haslam, who switches Nigel's Lad (2.55) between the Flat, hurdles, and fences, opts for the latter in a £15,000 Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

The strapping nine-year-old will have no problem with his big weight, or the undulating nature of the course, since he has won there before.

Peter Bowen's back-to-form Mr Bombastique (4.25) relishes fast ground, a factor counting against many of his rivals in the Sunday Shopping Handicap Hurdle.

* Sam Morshead, clerk of the course at Perth, is looking forward to a bumper day's action at Britain's most northerly racecourse tomorrow.

The seven-race card features the £20,000 City Of Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase, which has attracted a maximum field of 20.

''We're delighted to get such a good response to the meeting,'' said Morshead.

''It's going to be a great family day with fine weather forecast and we're hoping to beat last year's crowd of 9,000, which was the largest in living memory for the course.

''There'll be a Scottish pipe band, donkey derbys and all sorts of entertainment.''