TOP-FLIGHT apprentice jockey David Allan has found the perfect stage to further advertise his talents by lifting this evening's Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup aboard Piccled (7.20).

Newcastle's leading sprint race invariably attracts a field full of equine fireballs and tonight's £35,000 charge is no exception. Piccled's credentials are as good as any, having already shown himself to be a very speedy customer both on the all-weather and turf this season.

One thing's for sure - Eric Alston's Lancashire raider will need a bit more luck in running than at Musselburgh last time out, where the gaps simply did not come at the right time.

By the time Piccled did see daylight it was all too late, and despite absolutely flying in the final furlong he could not peg back the front five, all of whom had got first run.

In keeping with tradition, the two-day Northumberland Plate meeting gets underway with a mile-and-a-quarter Gentlemen Amateur Riders Handicap.

It's an event in which an unrealistically fast early gallop often suits hold-up horses such as Eton. Don't expect the Dandy Nicholls-trained seven-year-old to appear on the scene until late on in the 1-mile contest. But when Eton is unleashed he could take some catching inside the final furlong.

Plenty of shrewdies reckon Penny Cross (8.25) is an extremely progressive filly and should only be opposed with good reason in the one-mile cantorsport.co.uk Handicap

Although the record books show the winning margin of her latest victory at Carlisle was only two lengths, that distance could have been trebled had Keith Dalgleish kicked his mount in the belly and ridden her out to the line.

Cripsey Brook has been doing sterling work in recent weeks for Don Enrico Incisa, who only has a handful of horses in his small Middleham yard these days.

Enrico's regular jockey, Kim Tinkler, has struck up a fine relationship with Cripsey Brook, the combination winning two of their last three races. And there was also plenty to like about the manner of Cripsey Brook's fluent success at Nottingham where the gelding clocked a particularly quick time.

David Barron does not send his horses down south unless he believes he has a serious chance, so the participation of Impressive Flight (4.10) in the Martinique Fillies Conditions Stakes warrants the closest inspection.

Impressive Flight has already demonstrated a liking for the track, and despite facing undoubtedly her sternest test to date, I believe she will be up to task under the expert guidance of the ever-reliable ex-champion jockey, Kevin Darley.

* Ripon Race Company Ltd were fined £1,250 following a hearing of the Jockey Club's disciplinary panel in London yesterday.

They were called to Portman Square to answer charges pertaining to breaches of the rules concerning ''requirements for the provision of racecourse medical services'' and ''responsibilities of racecourse medical officers and other medical staff'' at their meeting on April 17.

The matter concerned the passing on of information that the minimum two ambulances were not present.

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