BLUSHING RUSSIAN is well worthy of support in this afternoon's Gary Owen Nursery at Ayr.

Patrick Haslam's two-year-old has shown steady improvement on all three racecourse outings to date, most notably on his latest foray to Thirsk where he stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to finish in third spot over seven furlongs.

Given that Blushing Russian (3.00) was doing all of his best work once the winning line was in sight, plus the fact his mother prevailed over ten furlongs in France, there are compelling reasons to suggest he will improve significantly over today's longer distance.

Fellow Middleham raider, Winged d'Argent (4.30), does not appear to have been harshly treated by the handicapper in the Racing UK Stakes.

Low mileage is one of the endearing features of Mark Johnston's three-year-old, who has made it to the races on only two occasions despite being in training for the past couple of years.

Winged d'Argent has clearly had his problems, nonetheless when he has turned up for duty the results have been impressive, first of all scoring on his debut at Pontefract, and then taking fifth spot in a contest at Sandown, the form of which has worked out like a dream.

Mansfield Park (2.50) makes plenty of appeal in the pick of the action at Leicester, the £10,000 Wreake Conditions Stakes.

Mansfield Park's rider, Frankie Dettori, appears to be home and hosed in the battle against Kieren Fallon for the jockey's championship, helped in no small part by trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, responsible for preparing the selection.

Bin Suroor has supplied Dettori with the bulk of his 2004 haul, and it will come as no surprise if Mansfield Park adds to the in-form duo's tally having run with credit in defeat at both Doncaster and Ascot on her last two starts.

The ease in the ground at the Midlands venue certainly won't inconvenience Duelling Banjos (5.20), a leading contender for the ladbrokes.com Handicap.

John Akehurst's stable was woefully out-of-sorts throughout the first half of the season, however things have picked up over the past few weeks, signalling a potential return to the winners' circle for Duelling Banjos.

Akehurst's gelding hit the jackpot in the autumn at Nottingham 12 months ago, and if his latest encouraging effort at Windsor is anything to go by, more success awaits in the £7,000 mile-and-quarter affair.

Finally to Fontwell where the presence of top-flight jump jockey, Richard Johnson, will hopefully help revive the flagging fortunes of Keltic Heritage (3.10).

I thought the ten-year-old grey was genuine Grand National material when he put together an impressive sequence during 2002. Sadly Keltic Heritage has seemingly gone to pot since, but it is far too soon to write him off yet and a summer of grass, combined with Richard's urgings from the saddle, could be exactly what the doctor ordered to get him back on song.

* Kasthari and Millenary, who fought out a thrilling finish to the Doncaster Cup last month, may go head-to-head again at Newmarket on Saturday.

The pair, who dead-heated on Town Moor, are among 19 declared at the five-day stage for the Persian Punch Jockey Club Cup, which is being run this year in the name of the ill-fated stayer who landed the spoils 12 months ago.

On that occasion, Millenary and Kasthari finished second and third respectively.

Trainer Howard Johnson is using the race this year as a springboard to a winter campaign over hurdles for the latter.

David Elsworth has entered both Gold Medallist and Romany Prince in the Group Three contest.

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