MILTON BRADLEY, a trainer blessed with the magic touch when it comes to revitalising sprinters, is fancied to work the oracle yet again via Brevity in division two of the Alcatraz Handicap at Southwell today.

Last season it was the bargain buys Nineacres and Juwwi who were the principal standard-bearers for Bradley's stable, but they have both shot up the ratings, making life potentially very difficult for the speedy brace.

Well-handicapped replacements for such stars are always required, and Brevity (5.15), a relatively new recruit to the yard, fits the bill to perfection.

Duncan Sasse managed to land quite a touch with the selection a couple of years ago at Newbury, unfortunately the gelding has not found the winners' enclosure since.

But Brevity showed he was on the way back when, despite being denied a clear run at Lingfield last time, he still finished a close-up sixth to the 17-time prolific scorer, Krystal Max.

If past history is anything to go by, the former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough will have something to say about the outcome of the race named to celebrate his birthday at 3.15.

"Cloughie" always had one eye on bargain-basement buys in the transfer market and I believe the best value in the race comes in the guise of likely outsider Arawak Prince.

Although David Bridgewater's representative was only third in a Lingfield claimer recently, it was an outing which came after a long absence, consequently he is entitled to be far sharper for the run.

In March 2000 Arawak Prince won a novices' hurdle in good style at Plumpton.

If he could transfer that form to the level he would have an excellent each-way chance.

Both Bergen and Sea Ya Maite have their own ideas about the game.

It's a factor well worth considering when assessing the pros and cons of the seven-furlong Classified Stakes at 4.15.

If the duo fail to sparkle, Sand Hawk may well swoop to conquer over a trip tailor-made for the gritty fibresand specialist.

Sergeant Slipper, twice bitterly disappointing when napped by this column, is overlooked in favour of Sue Me (4.45) for division one of the Alcatraz Handicap