Johnston can help make it a Grey day (From The Northern Echo)

Johnston can help make it a Grey day

10:34am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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GREYFRIARSCHORISTA can take advantage of what appears to be a thoroughly lenient mark in the Betdaq Poker Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Mark Johnston’s Derby-entered colt looked one to follow one runner-up to a hot favourite on his seasonal bow and that opinion was justified when he bolted up by five lengths on his next maiden start.

Given a mark of 72 for his handicap debut, he made a mockery of that assessment when annihilating his rivals by 15 lengths at Kempton just over a week ago.

He still looked to have something to learn on that occasion and is sure to be hammered by the handicapper for such a wide-margin success.

Greyfriarschorista is saddled with just a 6lb penalty here, though, and it hard to envisage defeat for what looks to be an above-average animal in this sphere.

Rock Ascot was a Group One winner in his native Uruguay and although he has found the competition much hotter in Britain, he looks to have a winning opportunity at Dunstall Park.

The six-year-old struck at the highest level over 12 furlongs at Maronas in January 2008 but he did not surface again until lining up in Dubai a year later.

He was thoroughly beaten on his sole start for Herman Brown and suffered a similar fate when switched to the care of Gary Moore that summer.

Unplaced runs at Newbury, Goodwood and Kempton offered little encouragement but Rock Ascot did finally come good when scoring a narrow success in an aboveaverage handicap at Lingfield last October.

He was virtually pulled up on his final start of the year, but that was all forgotten as he turned in a decent effort to finish fifth on his return at Lingfield last month.

Beaten just three lengths, he got tapped for toe against the highly-rated Bridge Of Gold and some race-fit rivals in a competitive handicap heat.

The Bet In Running - Betdaq Conditions Stakes possibly represents a slightly easier task for Rock Ascot and he is taken to bounce back to his best.

Lindy Lou found only subsequent Lanzarote fifth Keki Buku too good last time and compensation awaits at Wincanton.

Alan Fleming’s charge was taking a jump up in class so plenty of encouragement can be taken from her staying-on performance and is the choice in the Bath Rugby Handicap Hurdle.