Racing from Tom O'Ryan

Double Action, who loves soft ground, will be in his element on rain-soaked Knavesmire tomorrow as he bids to open his winning account for the season in the £15,000 Marketing Week 20th Anniversary Rated Handicap over six furlongs.

Tim Easterby's sprinter was a course and distance winner in the mud last term before going on to finish an excellent second in the Ayr Gold Cup.

The four-year-old has taken time to come to hand this season, but his latest effort, here last month, gave notice that he is approaching peak form.

Double Action finished fifth to World Premier, beaten less than three lengths, and was staying on best of all at the death.

With conditions in his favour tomorrow, the Great Habton gelding can hit the bullseye.

Easterby also has strong claims in the Anthony Fawcett Memorial Handicap with Grand Estate, who carries the colours of well-known local owner Ian Armitage.

Grand Estate, a pretty smart juvenile last season, returned to action at Newcastle last week and finished a good second to Five Of Spades after coming in for significant support in the market.

Although tomorrow's race comes plenty soon enough after his initial outing of the campaign, Grand Estate is expected to run a big race with smart apprentice Robert Winston reducing his weight by 5lb.

Among the opposition is Benzoe, owned by Tony Fawcett, who, along with his family, sponsor this race in memory of his father. Benzoe has been in good form recently, but may find one or two of these rivals too strong.

The Shepherd Ebor Trial Rated Handicap offers Tarxien a good opportunity to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Karl Burke's much-improved performer, got off the mark at Haydock last month, beating Turgenev by six lengths, and had no difficulty defying a penalty at Newbury, where he had five lengths to spare over Dead Aim.

Tarxien races off a 7lb higher mark tomorrow, but cannot be left out of the reckoning, especially as he revels on a soft surface.

Lucan Cumani, who sent out High-Rise to gain a 20/1 success in last Saturday's Vodafone Derby, has his horses in tremendous form at present.

The Newmarket trainer can make his presence felt tomorrow with Altaweelah in the Polo Supermint Classified Stakes. This highly-raced three-year-old won nicely at Haydock early in May and looks capable of significant improvement. Frankie Dettori takes over the reins tomorrow.

At Sandown, the in-form Jack Berry can lift the opening honours with Ansellman in the Wings Mediaworks Claiming Stakes.

A Redcar winner last month, Ansellman has since twice run well in defeat in red-hot handicaps.

Sky Dome (3-05), who ran so well on his reappearance at Ripon, and Broughtons Turmoil (3-40), from a stable in form, are two others to note at the Esher course.

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