ESCALATING can strike while the iron is hot in the totequadpot Races 3,4,5 And 6 Handicap at Epsom.

A dual winner for the late Pat Eddery in 2014, the four-year-old subsequently lost his way, with just three starts last season suggesting his career was going in the wrong direction.

However, Mick Appleby is a dab hand at improving horses he has bought from other yards and this 15,000 guineas acquisition is already looking a shrewd purchase.

After a trio of good efforts in defeat, the sprinter opened his account for the campaign in some style in testing conditions at Nottingham last week.

It is no surprise to see him make a swift return under the mandatory penalty and he should be a tough nut to crack.

Cajoled found Listed company too tough an ask last time but dropped back in class, she can regain the winning thread in the Moulton Nursery of Acle Handicap at Yarmouth.

A winner on her racecourse debut on the all weather last December, Cajoled then posted a taking success on her first try in handicap company at Nottingham, winning by the best part of two lengths.

With Oaks and Ribblesdale entries having been made for the Niarchos Family-owned filly, it was understandable trainer George Scott was then keen to test her mettle at a higher level.

Pitched into the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood, Cajoled showed that leap up to be beyond her at this stage as she got a bit worked up before the race, started slowly and then failed to put up any kind of challenge before finishing last of nine runners.

Given she is rated only 79, Scott was probably aiming a bit too high there but the outing is more experience under her belt and reverting to handicap level can see Cajoled get her campaign back on track.

Injam can finally get his head in front in the Bohle 20th Anniversary Handicap at Haydock.

A 75,000 Euros half-brother to four winners, Injam held a Derby entry at one stage but he is way short of that kind of company, as evidenced by the fact he has yet to win in five outings.

That said, Jedd O'Keeffe has only recently stepped up to 12 furlongs with this Pour Moi gelding, and longer trips could well be the making of him.

Third at Leicester in April, he then finished second to a stablemate at Ripon earlier this month after failing to find any change of gear in the closing stages.

That seeming lack of pace was a likely factor in O'Keeffe's decision to switch up to a mile and three-quarters here, but the call can pay dividends.

Elusive Ellen has yet to win on turf but her time can come in the Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies' Handicap at Newbury.

She looked incredibly unlucky last time when finding her run blocked at just the wrong moment, eventually having to settle for a close-up fourth at Lingfield.

That effort suggests she is at least capable of winning on the grass and her unchanged mark of 78 looks highly workable.

Wes Ward's Oh So Terrible must be respected in the Christian Marner EBF Novice Fillies' Stakes as the American handler always has his juveniles primed for the job in hand.

Wot A Shot can hit the mark for Nicky Richards in the ROA/Racing Post Owners' Jackpot Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Perth.

SELECTIONS

BELLEWSTOWN: 5.05 Texas Dancer, 5.35 Paytheprice, 6.05 Shanghai Beauty, 6.35 Buonarotti Boy, 7.05 Face Value, 7.40 Coldstonesober, 8.10 Cradle Mountain, 8.40 Yaha Fizz.

EPSOM: 6.10 Hatsaway, 6.45 Tap Tap Boom, 7.15 ESCALATING (NAP), 7.50 Grapevine, 8.20 Zaria, 8.50 Flying Fantasy.

HAYDOCK: 2.00 Stoneboat Bill, 2.30 Winning Ways, 3.00 Rose Eclair, 3.30 Celtic Sixpence, 4.00 Bear Valley, 4.30 Injam, 5.00 Cacica.

NEWBURY: 5.55 Lady McGuffy, 6.25 Oh So Terrible, 7.00 Curve Ball, 7.30 Nodachi, 8.05 Elusive Ellen, 8.35 Fort Jefferson, 9.10 Pink Ribbon.

PERTH: 2.10 Close Escape, 2.40 Drop A Gear, 3.10 Violoniste, 3.40 Wot A Shot, 4.10 Royal Macnab, 4.40 Lake Malawi, 5.10 Python.

TIPPERARY: 5.45 Decisive Intent, 6.15 Gordon Lord Byron, 6.50 Enough Is Enough, 7.20 Avealittlepatience, 7.55 High Honcho, 8.25 Windsor Beach, 8.55 Angel's Gift.

YARMOUTH: 1.50 Nobly Born, 2.20 Kodiac Khan, 2.50 Chotto, 3.20 Palenville, 3.50 Poplar, 4.20 Four Poets, 4.50 Cajoled, 5.25 Smoky Hill.

DOUBLE: Cajoled and Injam.