JOHN WADE'S decision to purchase Domino Dancer from neighbouring trainer Howard Johnson produced an instant return when his new inmate won at the Northumberland Plate meeting.

The mud was flying on that rain-lashed Tyneside afternoon, and judging by the state of the weather it'll be more of same for Domino Dancer (4.00) in the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap.

Aycliffe Village-based Wade, who successfully mixes his haulage, quarrying and skip-hire business with racehorse training, has his small but select string in prime nick at present.

Second-guessing if Domino Dancer would go well first time up for the stable was an impossible riddle to solve, but when the going got tough the three-year-old did not disappoint.

Such was his determination to defy the dreadful conditions, backers should once again be able to rely on him to give them a good run for their money in today's mile-and-a-half war of attrition.

Efidium (4.35), who has been a great friend to regular readers of the column, might well do us yet another financial favour by capturing the one mile Birchall Handicap.

Neville Bycroft's evergreen nine-year-old went within an ace of pinching a decent prize at York last Saturday, beaten only in the dying strides on what was a bog-like Knavesmire.

You need to be as as fit as a butcher's dog in the current monsoon season, a comment which certainly applies to Efidium, a hardy individual with not an ounce of fat on his wiry frame

After a mixed bag of results, Kevin Ryan's team struck gold on Thursday with a big-priced treble at Hamilton.

The yard's horses weren't quite firing when Lavender Moon (3.00) failed to justify 5/4 favouritism in June, an unexpected Thirsk reverse considering the weight of money for the filly.

Connections are persevering and seeing as the lowly Clotherhome Selling Stakes won't take much winning, previous losses might easily be recouped with interest in the six-furlong sprint.

Turbo Linn's seventh straight triumph in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks simply confirmed what many folk round these parts already knew, that Alan Swinbank is a brilliant trainer of thoroughbreds.

The rise-and-rise of the four-year-old, graduating from National Hunt bumpers to near top-class Flat horse, has been a tribute to Swinbank's patience with his young stock.

"Don't rush them, never, never, rush them," says Swinbank, who is hoping his unbeaten mare can make it eight in a row by scooping Newmarket's Listed twelve-furlong Plantation Stakes.

"Admittedly it is a bit soon after her last run, but she came out of that race in good form. She's a great filly and has done everything we've asked of her," added Swinbank.

Although Indonesia (4.45) appeared to put in a lack-lustre display at Catterick ten days ago, there may have been valid excuses for Tim Walford's normally dependable stayer.

First of all, the tight turns didn't suit the son of Lomitas, then when he finally began to make headway in the home straight, his path was blocked by the concertina effect of the pack coming together.

Newmarket's galloping track is a totally different cup of tea, notably because of its wide-open spaces, which enable long-striding types such as Indonesia to obtain a full head of steam.

You can't blame disgruntled punters for dubbing Holbeck Ghyll (5.15) a professional loser, a tag ignominiously gained for his failure to land some prodigious gambles in the past.

Andrew Balding's chestnut-coloured sprinter has tons of ability and sooner or later he's going to click in a contest like the five-furlong TurfTV Handicap.

One of the principal reasons for siding with Holbeck Ghyll is the presence of top apprentice, William Buick, who possesses the happy knack of getting maximum co-operation from his partners.