CARIBBEAN CORAL isn't what you'll find on Redcar beach, but pay a visit to the town's racecourse and the horse of the same name might wash up in the winners' enclosure.

John Quinn's dasher has slipped back to a tempting mark and should go mighty close in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap.

Not so long ago Caribbean Coral (4.10) was running off a rating in the low nineties, however the eight-year-old hasn't won for a year and the handicapper has taken pity.

It's tempting to side with one of his main opponents, Inter Vision, successfully tipped up to win in Saturday's column at Catterick, but a 6lbs penalty is off-putting.

Although Inter Vision is bang in form, he's never won off his revised mark of 91, which could hand the initiative to Caribbean Coral.

The big-hitters in the betting ring who like to back at short prices will doubtless have their eyes on Hurstpierpoint (2.40).

Richard Fahey's filly is no world-beater, nonetheless she's filled the runners-up spot sufficient times to suggest eventually she'll go one better.

The weakly-contested Claiming Stakes is the target for Hurstpierpoint, put in off a relatively low-weight by Fahey in the hope of hitting bulls-eye.

Chris Grant, who trains within a few miles of the track, concentrates mainly on the National Hunt scene with the odd exception such as Emirate Isle (3.10).

There's a further local flavour added to the selection, owned by Aycliffe-based business magnate, John Wade, a highly-successful Permit holder in his own right.

Emirate Isle's career has been staccato so far; showing promise in 2006, only for niggling problems to keep him out of action until 18 days ago at Hamilton.

Sent off at 50-1, Emirate Isle made a mockery of those nohoper odds by occupying fifth place, a hugely respectable performance in the circumstances.

Interestingly Grant chose a sixfurlong distance for that comeback, whereas he now tries the much-longer trip of a mile-and-aquarter for the handicap debut.

If like me you get the hint of a plot being hatched, watch the market and see if that opinion is vindicated, because if Chris fancies the horse, the money might be down.

Michael Dods sends a couple to Leicester with live chances, starting with ten-to-follow pick, Kiwi Bay (3.00), in the seven furlong Handicap.

Kiwi Bay, who scored over the trip at Newcastle in 2007, not surprisingly found a furlong less a tad too sharp on his latest Haydock outing when finishing fifth.

The tariff of the event has since been boosted by the sixthhome, Premier Danseur, who subsequently scored at Pontefract, giving the form extra ballast.

Dods is also runs Balakiref, triumphant over track and trip on successive days (May28/29) last season, a stat which speaks volumes for his effectiveness at the Midlands venue.