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WHINHILL HOUSE has the ability to get involved at the business end of the Edinburgh Holiday Claiming Stakes at Musselburgh.

David Barker's eight-year-old appears as good as ever this season following a break through the winter months - and is always a force to be reckoned with dropped down to this level.

That said, this five-furlong event is a very strong race for the grade, with former Ayr Gold Cup winner Funfair Wane and Fire Up The Band, a Group Three scorer in his youth, engaged.

However, those two appear a good bit short of those heights these days and Funfair Wane was a good deal behind the selection the last time they met at Catterick.

Barker's charge was unlucky that day as he blasted out of the stalls, as is his wont, and set a trailblazing pace.

Whinhill House was only caught inside the last 100 yards by stable companion Brut, who did him no favours by squeezing him up.

He usually takes a run or two to hit peak form so should be coming to hand nicely.

This winner of 13 previous races thrives at this time of year and ought to go very well.

Alan Swinbank wasted no time pitching Key Decision into open company for the Scottish Racing Your Better Bet Handicap.

He would have no trouble in picking up a maiden on the form of his last run, when just touched off by Sir Michael Stoute's Criterion at Thirsk But there are few better trainers in placing their horses to maximum effect than Swinbank and the hint should be taken.

Mick Channon's juveniles have suddenly sprung into life, with a Royal Ascot candidate seemingly emerging every day.

Whether Lucky Leigh is of that calibre is up for debate but he can be backed to follow up a debut win at Redcar in the EBF/Lindley Catering Novice Stakes at Bath.

He fairly bolted up on his last start and while the form may not be the strongest on offer, the wellbeing of Channon's string means he arrives there in great heart.

Mezzanisi hails from another yard in form, Michael Bell's, and the Bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed On Every Race Handicap should be within his range after going close last time.

Michael Jarvis' First Avenue looks the best bet on the card at Windsor's evening meeting in the Get On With William Hill 0800 44 40 40 Handicap.

He made his debut behind Craven winner Twice Over last year, and was not disgraced, and then stepped up markedly on that effort when winning at Yarmouth.

His mark of 82 after only two runs looks pretty stiff but he has picked that up for a reason.

Wolverhampton's card looks tricky, but Roger Charlton's Totem Flower seems to be progressing and should be on the premises in the Horizons Restaurant Rating Related Maiden Stakes.

■ Sergeant Cecil is set to return to longer distances following a disappointing performance in the Yorkshire Cup.

The nine-year-old took the Group Two prize over a mile and three-quarters 12 months earlier, but this time found the slow early pace unsuitable against younger rivals and eventually finished fifth behind Geordieland.

He had also been well beaten over a mile and a half on his seasonal debut at Newbury last month in a race won by Yorkshire Cup runner-up Royal And Regal.

Now the popular stayer - whose finest hour came when he won the Group One Prix du Cadran over two and a half miles at Longchamp in October 2006 - is to stick to marathon trips in future.

He's okay, but obviously we were hoping he'd run better than that,'' said trainer Rod Millman.

We were a bit disappointed and we will see how he is. He's been out in the paddock since York and he's not done a lot.

It was a very slowly-run race with a bit of a sprint at the end.

Alan (Munro) said the pace didn't suit him. He stays two and a half miles so he'll probably run over longer trips now."

10:03am Monday 19th May 2008

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