CRYFIELD could have the bookies sobbing their socks off if he can lift the Tilston Handicap at Haydock today.

Nigel Tinkler's gelding is bound to attract significant support in the betting ring having won two of his previous three outings.

Tinkler will not be too popular with the paying public if he is caught doing a rain dance in the vicinity of the course but it is a fact that the more rain the better for Cryfield (4.30), who has proved particularly effective with give underfoot.

Another individual who seems certain to be suited by a softish surface is Northern Echo (3.00), the three-year-old son of Pursuit Of Love named after our newspaper and trained not far from Darlington by Michael Dods.

He was a shade disappointing at Carlisle just over a week ago when possibly finding the ground, which was loose on top, not to his liking.

This afternoon he drops back into claiming company. Combine that with a reproduction of his pleasing runners-up spot to Africa at Beverley the time before, and it might make him worthy of a small each-way wager.

Clever placing by John Hills has resulted in an excellent opportunity for Amoras (2.50) to get off the mark for the season at Brighton.

The structure of the weights in the Broadland Classified Stakes greatly favours the three-year-old filly, a desperately unlucky loser at Salisbury when edged out in a titanic final furlong struggle by Fulke Johnson Houghton's Aploy.

Previous track and trip scorer Adriana (4.50) doesn't appear to be badly treated in the curiously-named John Radley Chicken Dance Handicap.

Adriana fought like a tiger to hold off the closing pack in a thrilling bunch finish at the seaside venue in July. And with Clive Brittain's stable remaining in fantastic fettle, the selection may well complete a third win from her last four starts.

Once a top-flight jockey for John Gosden's powerful yard, Gary Hind's fall from grace serves as a reminder just how easy it is to go out of fashion in the racing game.

By his own admission Gary turned down far too many outside rides in the past and by the time the Gosden connection was severed, the phone had stopped ringing.

Hind, never short of a smile despite his predicament, is now working hard to revive his flagging career. Maybe the consistent Zeppo (3.10) can help him take another step back up the ladder in the Crescent Design Selling Stakes at Chepstow