ACCORDING to the experts a heat-wave is imminent so some of those horses requiring a bit of give in the ground are heading post-haste to Ripon this evening where conditions remain on the easy side of good.

One such individual is Beluga Bay (8.10), who clearly has had training problems having only raced three times during the past two years. None the less the gelding has managed to win two of those three starts, which as all followers-of-form will know is an admirably high strike-rate.

Trainer James Fanshawe has had to treat his four-year-old with kid gloves and there's always a danger the selection will not be cherry-ripe following his 348-day absence. But past evidence supports the theory Beluga Bay goes well when fresh and he should play a leading role in the outcome of the £15,000 Cocked Hat Farm Handicap. The opening five furlong two-year-old Maiden Stakes seems to sure fall to Waterstone Park (6.40), a "good thing" judged on his recent second placing to a smart youngster of David Loder's at Newcastle last Thursday.

The following Sky Bet Claiming Stakes could also turn into a procession provided Non Ultra (7.10) maintains the improvement she showed at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago. Brian Meehan's daughter of Peintre Celebre possesses a smashing pedigree and it wasn't too much of a surprise when she finally got off the mark at the Midlands' track.

I suspect that now Non Ultra has got the hang of things further success awaits, although connections will be lucky to keep her as logic suggests there could well be plenty of interest when the claims are drawn out of the hat.

Following in-form sprinters is a tried-and-tested formula when it comes to backing winners which is why Cressex Katie (7.25) gets the nod in the six furlong Stan James Fillies' Handicap over at Newbury.

Jim Cullinan's filly is simply brimming with confidence at present, a factor that shone through when she imperiously swept past a big field at Bath to land a three-timer last time out.

It is generally a positive omen when Kieren Fallon hangs around for a ride in the "lucky last" at an evening meeting. Take note therefore of Woodyates (8.55) in the closing Telebetting Handicap over the neck end of one-mile-and-three-quarters. The sheer fact that Woodyates has already notched a previous course and distance victory, plus finished runner-up on his latest outing, will have the bookies quaking in their boots - a fear heightened by the presence of the champion jockey in the saddle.