RACING NORTH ten-to-follow pick, Up Tempo, heads to Windsor this evening (6.35) in an attempt to follow up last Monday's success at Redcar.

Kevin Ryan's decision to drop Up Tempo in class to claiming company proved spot-on seven days ago, so it's no surprise that the Hambleton-based handler adopts the same tactics at the south London track.

According to the Official Ratings, the seven-year-old gelding has plenty to find with likely favourite, Further Outlook. Admittedly it's always a risk taking on opponents with a superior weight profile, but at 11 years of age the latter is no spring chicken and, for my money, is there to be shot at.

While Up Tempo is strutting his south down south, stable-mate, Ticero (7.55), is many miles away in Scotland trying to land Musselburgh's Westbans Handicap.

Ticero's backers were in for a nasty shock when he failed to justify the position of market leader on his most recent start late last month. There seems no obvious reason for such a poor showing and, using the evidence of his previous third placing to Royal Melbourne and Crathorne, Ryan's raider is worth another chance.

In common with Ticero, Spring Breeze also didn't sent favourite backers home happy last time out, but at least there was a valid excuse for the gelding seeing as the unexpected soft surface at Catterick most probably scuppered his prospects.

In addition to the testing underfoot conditions, Spring Breeze was taken on for the lead in the early stages of that contest, which really didn't suit since the four-year-old ideally needs to dominate the minute the stalls open.

As things stand the forecast is to stay dry and if the ground remains on the fast side, Spring Breeze should have the measure of what looks to be a relatively weak field.

Spring Breeze's trainer, Darlington's Michael Dods, could easily double up if Sound And Vision (8.55) responds to the fitting of a first time tongue strap in the closing Whitetobrown Handicap.

Sound And Vision kept on with admirable resolution to take second spot behind facile scorer, Uncle Bulgaria, at Newcastle last Wednesday. He'd previously twice been denied a clear run at Warwick and like his able trainer, deserves a change of luck.

Nigel Tinkler's two-year-olds normally improve a ton for their first outing, which must bode well for Lucksin (6.55) in the South Belton Maiden Auction Stakes.

Lucksin was taking on a bunch of far more experienced rivals when finishing third on his debut at Redcar. Tinkler's colt will have learnt plenty from that initial encouraging foray to the course, which combined with his added fitness makes him a standout bet.

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