BANK on Baranova (2.15) to get the afternoon off to winning start in the opening one mile EBF Maiden Stakes at Leicester.

John Gosden's filly appeared to be all at sea on her debut at Newmarket when starting slowly and spending much of the race hunting up the rear division.

But the penny finally dropped with two furlongs to travel finishing with an eye-catching flourish to grab fifth spot from a hopeless looking early position.

That contest was over seven furlongs, and Gosden's decision to step Baranova up another furlong is entirely natural judged by her stout pedigree.

Despite his welter-burden of 10 stone, Unshaken (3.45) remains well-handicapped for his bid to make it two-from-two in the Racecourse Video Handicap.

Eric Alston's runner was totally out of sorts at the end of last season and at the beginning of this one.

But every cloud has a silver lining and the net result was a significant drop in his official rating.

Unshaken took advantage of his good fortune by cutting down the opposition with a scintillating turn of foot on his latest start at Carlisle. And with only 3lbs more to carry today, the in-form sprinter is fancied to complete a double.

Gutsy Paarl Rock (5.15) and up-and-coming young apprentice Graham Gibbons have teamed up to good effect winning two of their last four starts.

One of those victories came over track and trip in July demonstrating his ability to handle the stiff nature of the Midlands course.

Although he faces a stern task in trying to defeat all 18 rivals in the Racechat Apprentice Handicap, I believe Gibbons and Paarl Rock to be equal to the job in hand.

Lingfield's mixed meeting kicks off with a competitive all-weather mile-and-a-quarter Selling Handicap.

It's often worth concentrating on low numbers prompting me to recommend a small interest on Billichang (2.00) out of stall 5.

Paul Howling's front-runner will doubtless try to bag the favoured rail position in an attempt to record a pillar-to-post success.

Back on the more conventional turf surface, Boisdale (3.00) could oblige at decent starting price in the Haxted Mill Nursery.

He's a son of Common Grounds, a sire enjoying plenty of success at present.

Boisdale, who ran a fair race considering his lousy draw at Salisbury three weeks ago, is just the type to produce dramatic improvement now that he is tried over seven furlongs in handicap company for the first time.

l Littlepacepaddocks was yesterday all the rage in the ante-post market for Saturday's Rothmans Royals St Leger at Doncaster.

And trainer Mark Johnston boosted her backers' confidence after saying he ''would not be surprised'' if the daughter of Accordion were to win the race.

The filly, winner of a Listed contest at Newbury in June and fourth in the Irish Oaks, is as short as 13-2 with William Hill, having been 20-1.

Johnston also reported Fruits Of Love to be in fine form following his third behind Samum in the Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany on Sunday.

The five-year-old will now head for the Canadian International at Woodbine on October 15, a race in which he finished second last year.

l A group of 27 lads out on a stag party at Haydock races has been revealed as one of the two winners of the Tote Scoop6 on Saturday.

The group landed over £130,000 from the win dividend and have the opportunity to win another £191,000 if they select the winner of the bonus race on Saturday