REEL BUDDY could have the bookies' running for cover in the 4.15 at Goodwood today provided he can build on his recent success at Newmarket.

Richard Hannon's powerfully-built colt has to take on some pretty smart customers in the ABN AMRO-Sponsored Showcase Handicap, including Palace Affair and Blue Reigns, but the selection showed himself to be a pretty useful cookie when sweeping aside a competitive field at Newmarket 19 days ago.

A handful of Epsom Oaks contenders' line-up for the earlier Listed Lupe Stakes, notably Candice (2.30) from Ed Dunlop's Newmarket stable.

Interestingly the three-year-old filly was pulled out of a race at Newbury last week because the ground at the Berkshire course was considered to be unsuitably soft.

In the full knowledge that this contest was just around the corner, Dunlop's decision might now well be fully vindicated since the going has quickened up significantly in the meantime.

Candice's case is based on her high level of consistency last term when the daughter of Caerleon twice finished third, sandwiched between a gutsy victory at Chepstow.

In the closing SIS Handicap, Dolphinelle (5.20) has the right sort of profile to take advantage of a marked slip down the ratings.

Julian Poulton's gelding takes a little bit of kidding before he hits top gear, however, judged on his effort at Lingfield last week where he was a shade unlucky in running, the signs are that the five-year-old is about to strike.

Huge fields over the sticks at Bangor make winner-finding an unenviable task for would-be backers.

The numbers are at least reasonable in the longest event on the card, the three-mile-and-six-furlong nine-runner Worthenbury Handicap Chase.

When Parsons Boy (4.25) won at Haydock just over a fortnight ago he started at odds of 50-1. That fancy price will not be repeated today, although I still think he'll take all the beating, after all, when trained by Nicky Richards he was rated at over 120.

Parsons Boy still has about a stone to play with and there's no doubting his staying power in this veritable marathon.

Five-year-old maidens are not particularly enticing betting propositions, nevertheless there's always the exception to the rule and bearing this in mind a small wager on Bahrain (6.10) in the Brighton opener is recommended.

Milton Bradley's yard is literally on fire at present with Bahrain potentially about to join in the fun having finished a very promising seventh at Warwick.

Bradley has excellent prospects of completing a double in the finale, the Ladbrokes Sussex Handicap, with Brevity (8.40).

Milton loves to travel his horses, and just to prove a point Brevity won his latest start at Hamilton in south west Scotland. He's been blessed with a prime low draw from which I expect him to make all of the running.