Bandari is a banker at Newmarket

The Guineas weekend kicks off with some of the more established equine stars strutting their stuff at the headquarters of Flat racing and Mark Johnston's four-year-old is right out of the top drawer having won three Pattern races last year as well as finishing third in the St Leger.

"Bandari is on top form and worked really well on Monday morning," reported Johnson about his best hope of landing a Group 1 prize this term. The only problem about lacing up one's betting boots and getting stuck into Bandari is his tendency to fret.

In last year's Epsom Derby for instance he was awash with sweat by the time he was loaded into the stalls, expending so much nervous energy his chance was more or less gone there and then.

There's not a lot a trainer can do about such quirks and connections will just to hope the classy son of Alhaarth has matured sufficiently mentally over the winter months to counteract such drawbacks.

Johnston also has excellent prospects of landing the following Showcase Handicap courtesy of the long-striding chestnut, Ketan (2.55).

Ketan won two of his three outings over sprint trips last season, but also blotted his copybook by playing up at the stalls on more than one occasion. The obvious answer was to administer the unkindest cut of all and have him gelded to keep his mind on the job.

The operation was duly undertaken in the close season and there was plenty to like about his comeback run at Sandown last week where he probably found the trip of one mile stretching his stamina to the limit.

This afternoon's step back to seven furlongs therefore looks ideal and although likely to start at a not-too-attractive price, Ketan gets a confident vote from this quarter.

Sedgefield's evening fixture gets underway with the Gosforth Decorating Services Maiden Hurdle likely to fall to Princess Claudia (5.40). She has run well in all three outings to date, making the frame on each occasion. Such consistency deserves reward and the five-year-old mare has been found a relatively weak contest in which to shine.

The TFM And Magic Handicap Chase is by far the most interesting race on the card because it features no less than four previous course scorers.

Trooper was on his best behaviour when winning over track and trip a week ago, however sadly Andy's Crook's enigmatic gelding rarely runs two races alike. In the circumstances preference is for the Welsh raider Dragon King (7.10).

Peter Bowen's game veteran posted a very fast time when successful last week at Fontwell and is once again partnered by the top amateur Tom Greenhall, taking an invaluable 7lbs off the selection's back.

* Scotland The Brave justified stable confidence with a clear-cut success on her racecourse debut in the Manny Bernstein Pay Double Result Fillies' Handicap at Redcar yesterday, and she could have a date at Royal Ascot.

Trained by James Bethell at Middleham, she was brought with a strong run by Jamie Spencer to cut down Jumhoor and Cabeza De Vaca inside the final furlong and go on to score by a length.

She is a first foal out of the 1998 Lincoln Handicap winner Hunters Of Brora, and Bethell, sending out his first winner of the Turf campaign, said: ''She is nice and has been working very well at home, so we were hopeful.

''Jamie (Spencer) said something like the 'Fern Hill', a Listed handicap on the fifth day of the Royal meeting, might suit so we will have to see.''

Scotland The Brave's owner Robert Gibbons had made the four hour trip from his Scottish home to see the filly run, and he said with a smile: ''There will be a lot of pain among the bookmakers in Perthshire!

''I was stewarding at the Perth meeting last week and I was tipping her to everyone there. I also have a two-year-old full brother to her named Little Bob with James.''

Obe Bold showed the benefit of her debut run at Thirsk three weeks ago when running out a decisive winner of the Manny Bernstein Credit And Debit Betting Maiden Auction Stakes in the hands of Franny Norton.

The youngster is trained by Alan Berry for Sunderland-based Comtake-Welding, whose supremo Brian Robe said: ''It would be nice to run her at Ascot now, we will have to see.

''We have done a lot of work in the south and were involved in the construction of the London Eye and the roof of the British Museum - and we are working on the Gateshead Music Centre.''

Efidium will long live in the memory of apprentice Suzanne France having provided her with a second success in the space of five days in the Manny Bernstein Freephone 0800 821 821 Selling Stakes.

Huddersfield-born France, 22, was seen to good effect as she kept her mount going well to shake off the challenge of Bonito to beat him by three quarters of a length with Wood Dalling two lengths further away in third.

Efidium gave France her first winner on her 55th ride at Ripon last weekend, and winning trainer Neville Bycroft said: ''Suzanne gets on well with the horse, he likes it here at Redcar and he is in very good form at the moment.''

Finmar gained his first success at the 29th attempt and got his trainer Linda Perratt off the mark for the season in the hands of Charlie Poste in the Manny Bernstein Don't Get Disqualified Again Apprentice Maiden Handicap.

Miss Perratt was represented by Tim Finch who said: ''It is about time he has won, but to be fair to him he has just needed a bit of sweetening up. He has had a back problem and he got jarred up at Musselburgh.''

Roses Of Spring gave Newmarket trainer Bob Cowell and apprentice Amir Quinn their first successes on the course when running out a one and a half length winner of the Manny Bernstein Pay Double Result Fillies' Handicap. Luca Cumani's Starry Lodge, well ridden by apprentice Nicky Mackay, defied a 6lb penalty for a recent win at Warwick last week.

At Sedgefield tonight Numbers will be read out over the public address system between races and a full house earns £1,000. The shortest mini skirt competition took the headlines last year - and mascot Sedge The Field Mouse will again be the judge.

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