Raise a glass to Ellison and Little Jo

– Brian Ellison has been enjoying a purple patch of late, and Little Jo can provide him with another winner today in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap at Newcastle.

This relatively lightly-raced five-year-old will find things much easier than last time out, when he was a little out of his depth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.

That was his first run of the year, but he won at Headquarters off a mark of 81 last November and contests this event off just 1kg higher.

His record on the all-weather stands at two wins from just three runs, and he should be fitter than he was for the Cambridgeshire, so could be in for a profitable winter.

Wadi Al Salaam holds strong claims of defying a penalty in the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Novice Auction Stakes.

Tim Easterby's son of Breeders' Cup winner Outstrip had shown only a modicum of promise on his first two runs but took a big step forward last time out at Gosforth Park.

Sent off a 40-1 chance, he beat a previous winner and odds-on favourite with the pair well clear.

Some of the Newcastle novice events can be populated by the bigger Newmarket yards, but Easterby has found one that might not take as much winning as usual.

Kupa River catches the eye in the Betway Supporting Responsible Gambling Week Handicap.

Roger Fell gave his charge a break after a string of good efforts was ended tamely at York in June.

He had been on the go a long time and had deserved a rest - but prior to that, he was most consistent, surprising the handicapper on a number of occasions.

Freshened up and dropped 5kg, as well as the help of Paula Muir's useful 2kg claim, he is worth a second glance.

There is an extra meeting at Chelmsford, where Charlie Appleby's Ottoman Court looks the one to be on in the totepool Cashback At totesport.com Novice Stakes.

He has the unwanted distinction of being beaten favourite on all three of his starts to date, but he has still been awarded a rating of 90. –