NIGEL TINKLER'S long search for Group One glory with his stable star Sugarfoot (2.35) may finally come to fruition in this afternoon's £150,000 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Based at the tiny village of Langton just outside Malton, Sugarfoot has won ten times in all, amassing well over £200,000 prize money in the process.

But the "big one" has always eluded the handsome eight-year-old son of Thatching, described by his trainer as: "Not the sort of horse you would pick for a best friend," a veiled reference to Sugarfoot's aggressive tendencies in his box at home.

Out on the track, however, he's the perfect gentleman, who in the heat of battle never fails to give less than 100 per cent. In last year's Lockinge the selection would probably have finished third to hot-favourite Aljabr, but for being carried badly left in the closing stages.

The ground was unfavourably fast that day - vastly different from today's preferred soft surface. And with question marks hanging over the majority of his six rivals, the quest for the all-important Group One event is most definitely on.

In the Eastbury Handicap, Xaloc Bay (3.40) is of potential interest, making the long journey from Karl Burke's Middleham base south to Berkshire.

"He's a very fast colt," Burke told me earlier in the spring. There was certainly plenty to like about Xaloc Bay's comeback outing at Ripon, where he finished third on by far the slowest strip of ground hard against the stands' side rail.

It's an early start at Thirsk, where proceedings get under way with the five-furlong Easingwold Handicap at 1.10.

Time N Time Again and Proud Boast cross swords once again, having finished first and second respectively at Chester 11 days ago.

The former had a massive advantage from stall one that day and I expect the form to be reversed on Thirsk's much more conventional straight track.

Dual Musselburgh scorer Lennel (2.45) is nicely drawn in stall four for the Studford Inns Handicap over one mile.

Kieren Fallon was in the saddle when the three-year-old won his latest start at the Scottish track. On dismounting he was singing the praises of the Bishop Auckland raider to trainer Denys Smith, an opinion likely to be confirmed by Willie Ryan, who steps in for the ride with Fallon required by his retained boss Sir Michael Stoute at Newbury.

In the closing Kilburn Handicap don't expect to see my fancy, Statoyork (1.40), appear on the scene until the final 100 yards.

I once saw Derek Shaw's hold-up sprinter overtake the entire field in the final furlong at Ripon to snatch a most unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.

Jockey John MacAuley knows all about Statoyork's curious antics, so hopefully will not be panicking when his mount gets behind early on. Unfortunately, threading his way through such a large field is not that easy, and luck in running is sure to play a major part in the final result.

Ferdy Murphy's summer jumping string are paying their way in no uncertain terms.

His latest success can come via Rarchnamara (1.45), a promising six-year-old dropping back four furlongs in the opening Handicap Hurdle at Bangor, having failed to stay three miles at Hexham recently.

Venetia Williams is another handler to be feared at present. She has cracking prospects of a double at the North Wales venue with Teofilio (2.50) and Rosencrantz (3.20).

The former is an ex-Flat racer with the ideal profile to convert to jumps, while the long absence of Rosencrantz need not be of concern - Venetia is renowned for bringing back her horses from such breaks as fit as fleas.

Under the lights at Wolverhampton, Robin Sharp (8.00) has the class to defy joint top-weight in the Celebration Handicap.

Seven furlongs is a specialist distance well suited to the Willie Jarvis-trained filly, a narrow winner over track and trip back in January. She's since disappointed on desperate ground at Doncaster, an effort best put in the "too bad to be true" file.

Armchair punters have the Sky cameras to thank for covering the night meetings at Warwick and Lingfield.

Backing Tony McCoy at Warwick seems an eminently sensible plan, especially on Manx Magic (6.50) in the Hilton Metropole Novices' Chase.

It's a first try over the larger obstacles for Manx Magic, an incredibly game front-runner over timber, who, if taking well to fences, must have the beating of a field of mainly modest performers.

Lambourn trainer Roger Curtis has endured a miserable time over the sticks this winter simply because a lot of his stable inmates require quickish ground.

Sunshine at Lingfield has done the trick for the yard's Do Ye Know Wha (7.40), in with a great shout for the Charge Holders Handicap Hurdle in the hands of useful conditional jockey Tom Doyle.

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