Speed Davis can leave rivals trailing in his wake on hurdling debut

him started over hurdles and he should handle the ground no problem.

Val Dancer's form has worked out well suggesting the hat-trickbeckonsinthejumping For Joy On Racing TV Novices' Handicap Chase.

Having won at Leicester by 16 lengths, he was raised 8lb but that was nowhere nearly enough as he comfortably accounted for Shighness at Wetherby. That one has since come out and won at Catterick off 3lb higher so even though Val Dancer has been raised another 7lb, he is clearly progressing quickly.

Omar Maretti ran better than his finishing position suggested last time and merits respect in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap

Chase. After a couple of hurdles spins, Alex Hales sent the 10-year-old back over fences at Haydock where upped to an extended three and a half miles, he just did not appear to stay on very testing ground.

Moving back to three miles now Omar Maretti could have things in his favour to snap a two-year losing streak.

Venetia Williams' Hill Of Tara has won four out of five this season and despite rising 27lb in the process, his progress shows no sign of stopping. Admittedly he began the campaign off a basement rating of 80 at Ffos Las in November and bar a defeat at Southwell when possibly finding his third run in two weeks too much, he has answered every call.

His most recent outing at Hereford saw him absolutely bolt up and despite being hit with a 15lb rise, he is still the one to side with in the Tie The Knotweddingcateringconditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton.

Across

1 Annual test for leading players,

of course (3,7)

8 The top runner, in the past, was

king (3)

9 Policemen not in charge, were

open to tenders (6)

13 Sixth-former is in good shape

(2,3,3)

14 A dangerous place for a mischievous fairy left behind ... (5)

16 ... and left excellent runner

behind (4)

17 Pack it in, then hold it up (4)

18 Guns turned out for fastrunning mammals (4)

19 Hold onto a hurdle at Aintree,

etc (5)

20 Jack got round, in the end, to

sign on (4)

21 A pointed weapon at Ayr, Windsor and Ludlow, initially (3)

22 Leave out old US institute (4) 23 Les, with little hesitation,

gives one the glad eye (5)

25 A positive response at Yeovil,

Exeter and Swansea, initially (3) 26 Some players are frightened

to take one side (5)

27 Large snake displaying

crushing strength (6)

28 Share out a large amount,

we're told (5) 29 Powerful old midfielder at

Liverpool, Arsenal, etc (6)

30 Dish awarded to winners of

some National Hunt races (5) Down

1 Field event using three

elements (6,4)

2 A layer, of sorts, in Athens, for

instance (3)

3 An extended period of play

after 90 minutes (5,4)

4 Old snooker player started at

Millwall, Elgin and Oxford (3)

5 Show real commitment in a

formal request to fill a post (11) 6 Call to mind when ready to act

as a baby-sitter (8)

7 Second in command able to

help the manager (9)

9 Old fellows left the field after a

red card (3)

10 Was a football fan trailing

behind? (8)

11 If large, it turned out to be

breakable (7)

12 Starts all over again after draw

in a cup-tie (2-4)

15 Old ship got round old oil

company (4)

17 Close to the winning-post, as

it were (6)

23 Heather, for example, left in

good order (4)

24 Had to guess before an

attempt to score (4)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stenhousemuir Peterhead Spartans Dumbarton Bonnyrigg Rose Elgin

East Fife Stranraer Forfar Clyde