HENRY HALL'S hopes of landing a ninth career success received a major boost with the news that he'd drawn stall one for Catterick's £10,000 5th Regiment Royal Artillery Handicap.

An inside berth over sprint trips generally represents a significant advantage at the course and since the selection is housed hard against the far rail, he's in pole position to take his rivals to the cleaners.

It'll be Henry Hall's (3.30) 90th run in all and as ever trainer Nigel Tinkler's wife, Kim, will be in the saddle. For the record the nine-year-old has been a magnificent stable-servant to the Tinklers, bagging prize-money of over £128,000 and in the process established himself to be one of the most popular sprinters to be based in our region for many-a-moon.

Punters out of pocket after a massive gamble went astray on Nistaki (4.50) at Leicester will be keen to get their money refunded with interest when Tim Easterby's charge lines up for the six-furlong Workshop Handicap.

Supported at all rates from 12's to 4-1 joint favourite, Nistaki made much of the running that day until lack of peak condition brought about his downfall inside the final furlong.

In mitigation the colt had been off for nine weeks prior to the contest and is entitled to come on fitness-wise for the outing, a factor that along with his three-year-old form seems to indicate he'll be on the ball today.

Broke Road, better known as a winning hurdler, is an interesting contender for the closing Pinkers Pond Apprentices Handicap.

Heather Dalton's gelding is still pretty agile despite advancing years and I for one believe he'll like zipping round the ultra-tights bends. Broke Road (5.20) also loves the prevailing fast ground and could well turn out to be decent value against some extremely modest rivals.

Mark Johnston, fresh from a fabulous four-timer on Monday, trails all the way down to Lingfield with a view to try and capture the near mile-and-a-half finale with Western House (5.00).

Strictly according to the ratings Johnston's three-year-old has a bit to find with Silent Jo, however the latter hails from the rather hit-and-miss Godolphin stable, whereas Johnston's yard are firing on all cylinders.

Western House signalled his turn was not far away by chasing home Sir Michael Stoute's Villarrica at Warwick, a performance which was all the more meritorious as the pair had the red-hot favourite, Pace Shot, well held in third spot.

Having hopefully booted Western House to success, jockey Joe Fanning is scheduled to hot foot up the road and to take the ride on Marias Magic (8.15) for team Johnston in Sandown's Panmure Handicap.

Marias Magic did nothing wrong when runner-up to Turnstile at Hamilton last Friday, paving the way for the mare to return to her winning ways in the mile-and-three-quarter test of stamina.

* Hard Top, Sir Michael Stoute's only entry in the Ladbrokes St Leger, makes his 2005 debut in the Come Racing Here On Saturday Evening Maiden Stakes at Lingfield today.

The Ballymacoll Stud-owned son of Darshaan has only been seen on the racecourse once, when finishing fifth to the very smart Proclamation at Newmarket last October.

The colt, who will face eight rivals in today's race, is available at 14-1 with the sponsors for the world's oldest Classic, a race which Stoute has yet to win.

* Balwearie continued the revival of Linda Perratt's fortunes with a narrow win in the Seasons Holidays Handicap at Ayr yesterday.

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