Racing

Loder's triumphant return from a dismal two-year spell in France has been sensational as the Godolphin-owned two-year-olds have carried all before them.

Perhaps it's not that surprising the boys in blue are doing so well because to compete with Loder's boss, Sheikh Mohammed, you'd need a pretty large bank balance.

For the record, the Crown Prince of Dubai shelled out 1.5 million dollars for Dubai Destination, a son of Kingmambo, due in common with the majority of Loder's inmates to be partnered by Frankie Dettori in the Scottish Life Maiden Stakes.

In the later £15,000 Showcase Handicap, Judicious (3.10) should not be opposed lightly.

He absolutely bolted up at Thirsk ten days ago, winning by six lengths yet attracting only a 3lbs penalty for that scintillating success.

Geoff Wragg's four-year-old is clearly on a massive upward curve and despite the strength of the opposition will be hard to beat in the hands of regular pilot, Darryll Holland.

Slaneyside (2.20) makes plenty of appeal in the opener at Hamilton, the mile-and-five-furlong Belstane Racing Stables Handicap.

He did all of the donkey work in front at Beverley last week, only to set the race up for a whole host of hold-up merchants who, predictably, swept past in the final two furlongs.

I reckon he might be ridden with just a shade more restraint on this occasion, tactics which could pay handsome dividends.

On the face of it, Tigne's (2.50) well-beaten sixth placing on his debut at Southwell's all-weather venue looks a pretty moderate performance. But the form of the contest has worked out particularly well and to aid the selection's prospects even further, he has been dropped significantly in class for the Pubs And Clubs Claiming Stakes.

There could be another winner for Middleham in the following Margaret Fraser Maiden Fillies' Stakes, this time for Chris Fairhurst with Philgirl (3.20).

She's shown an admirable aptitude for the game, running especially creditably in what appeared to be an above-average two-year-old contest at Ayr a fortnight ago.

Notwithstanding a fairly hefty weight to shoulder, Swing Of The Tide (3.50) still has plenty going for her in the Ben Fillies' Handicap over an extended mile.

She's a long-striding daughter of Sri Pekan, who was possibly unsuited by Chester sharp turns when failing to justify favouritism at the Roodeye recently.

Denton handler and Northern Echo columnist Michael Dods enterprisingly sends Square Dancer (8.00) on the marathon trek to Brighton for the Harry Bloom Memorial Handicap.

He's won before at the track, although never over this evening's distance of seven furlongs. However, there's no doubt the five-year-old stays the trip and his highly-advantageous low draw in the number two stall is another factor in his favour.

Nick Littmoden seems all set for a decent pay day at Yarmouth, where both Cretan Gift (3.30) and Sounds Lucky (4.00) have the class to complete a double for their in-form Newmarket trainer.

l Rising teenage star-of-the-saddle, Graham Gibbons, justified the confidence of JANUS (Colin Woods) at Beverley yesterday by steering 3-1 nap selection Miss C to an effortless victory.

l Luca Cumani holds the key to this year's running of the £120,000 Foster's Northumberland Plate after the weights were unveiled yesterday.

The two-mile contest, known as the Pitmen's Derby, is run at Newcastle on June 30 and Cumani's two entries top the weights, with Boreas on 9st 10lb and Vicious Circle, the winner of the Tote-Ebor in 1999, next on 9-8.

The trainer said yesterday that both horses were possible runners, although a final decision was yet to be taken.

''I need to have a good look at the weights and make my mind up,'' said Cumani.