IN-FORM Peter's Imp has a terrific opportunity to complete a sparkling three-timer at Newcastle this afternoon.

Alan Berry placed his useful handicapper to collect a small race at Warwick prior to a far more prestigious victory in the Lady Riders Diamond Stakes at Ascot's King George meeting last month.

A feature of the straight tracks at both Ascot and Newcastle is the stiff uphill climb to the winning post. It's a crucial factor to horses like Peter's Imp (5.00), guaranteed to pull out all of the stops when maximum effort is required in the tussle to the line.

Backing top-weights in Nursery Handicaps is a system to have stood the test of time.

Utilising that particular theory Mon Secret (3.00) has to be the selection in the second race sponsored by the Racing Channel. Les Eyre's progressive juvenile rarely runs a bad race hence the big weight to shoulder.

Should Mon Secret fail to fire, Cynara warrants each-way support. George Moore's gelding remains on a handy mark, plus there was no disguising the promise of his latest second placing at Catterick.

Mary Reveley's legion of fans have been set quite a poser because she sends out two runners, Gunboat Diplomacy and House Of Dreams, for the Apprentice Selling Stakes at 3.30.

According to the Official Ratings, the latter is vastly superior to the rest of the field, so perhaps the main danger to House Of Dreams is an off-putting absence of 166 days.

Cassandra (2.20) might be the answer to a tight-knit affair for the opening Bollinger Amateur Riders Handicap at Pontefract.

Both Protocol and Rare Talent are likely to attract support for the contest potentially making the market for Mel Brittain's filly, who could easily go off at a starting price of 10-1 or better.

The basis for Cassandra's claims stem from her best effort this term achieved over track and trip back in May when going down by a half-a-length to Temperamental.

Judging by the way Hand Chime (4.50) destroyed a decent field at Kempton a week ago she should have little difficulty completing the double in the August Classified Stakes.

The closing Tally Ho Handicap affords supporters of Shamsan (5.20) the chance to get their money back with interest after a slightly unlucky defeat at Leicester last Wednesday.

l SOAKED will attempt to make it three wins in as many days after his victory under Jimmy Quinn at Bath.

David Chapman's seven-year-old scored at Windsor on Monday night and delivered a late, late show on this occasion when getting up close home to deny Palawan by a neck in the Summer Sprint Handicap.

''He goes to Brighton for his hat-trick attempt,'' said Chapman's assistant Ruth Clark. "That has always been the plan as long as he's okay and Jimmy will ride him again.