JOHN DUNLOP'S season has not been without its ups and downs because after a flying start his horses went off the boil in mid to late summer.

Thankfully all is well again with his team, a fact confirmed by the well-being of Doncaster raider Riverina, who bids to complete an impressive three-timer in the Sponsorship Handicap on the Town Moor.

Riverina's (2.35) two previous victories have come at Thirsk and York, his latest success coming in bog-like conditions on the Knavesmire.

Things won't be so different at the South Yorkshire venue, which in keeping with most of the UK has not escaped the recent spell of depressingly wet weather.

The testing ground is also sure to play a major part in the Thorne Handicap, which will probably seem more like three miles than approximately half the distance.

The one I fancy to still be galloping when legs turn to jelly up the home straight is Chemicalattraction (4.25).

Richard Fahey's three-year-old is definitely one to keep on the right side, having shown improved form on all of his last three outings, which have included wins at both Hamilton and Catterick.

The only Group race of the day takes place at Newbury where some pretty useful two-year-olds are set to fight out the finish of the seven-furlong Horris Hill Stakes.

The three I fancy to trouble the judge are Rapscallion (3.10), Rajab, and Millennium Dragon, in that order.

Rapscallion is on a real roll, having rattled off a hat-trick, latterly gamely nailing Gerard Butler's Playapart right on the wire in the Hyperion Stakes at Ascot.

Ever-popular Gaelic Storm tries to win the Schroders Rated Stakes for the third time in four years.

Sadly the seven-year-old, who has been beaten in claiming company on his last two starts, is probably not the force of yesteryear and I'm going oppose my faithful old friend in favour of Tedburrow (3.40).

Eric Alson's veteran sprinter retains a remarkable zest for racing at an age when most of his contemporaries have long been pensioned off to greener pastures.

It's fairly safe to ignore Tedburrow's latest down-the-field effort at Newmarket, where he saw less daylight than a mole in a disused coal mine. But on his best form he'd be bang there with a shout in an event full of contestants with question marks over their heads.

Going nap on Sergeant Slipper (5.15) in the closing 25-runner five furlong Michael Rooney Handicap smacks of a tipster in desperate need of a long-priced winner.

My quest for a second Racing Post title has sadly hit a brick wall over the last couple of weeks, although not for the want of trying and yesterday's close second, Celtic Style, was a particularly bitter pill to swallow having looked sure to prevail at the furlong pole.

Sergeant Slipper's credentials are not immediately obvious, but dig deep in the form book and he is a turf scorer on heavy ground, plus he has won off a mark of 60 on the all-weather at Southwell.

Technically that puts him in 11lb well-in on his sand mark, so he should be thereabouts provided this habitual sleeper-in-the-stalls gets away to something like a level break.