YORK trainer Paul Midgley can finally saddle Ninjago to victory when the sprinter lines up at Wolverhampton.

The Westow handler has made little secret of the admiration he holds for the seven-year-old gelding, who was transferred to Midgley from Richard Hannon's yard last May.

Ninjago has occasionally threatened to live up to the positive vibes but the hard fact remains that he has gone 12 races without success for his new trainer.

The son of Mount Nelson has, however, been aggressively campaigned in good company, so perhaps this descent into class three company for the 32Red.com Handicap might do for him.

There was, after all, just reason for optimism for the future over this course and distance on his last outing in late February, when he flashed home for fifth place in a better calibre of race.

Ninjago was only beaten a length and a quarter by King Robert but there is hope that form can be reversed as the Midgley horse was blocked for room inside the final furlong and was always chasing the game from there on in.

Running off the same career-low mark of 89, he really ought to be competitive in this six-furlong affair as today's nap under Robert Winston.

BEAUCHAMP OPAL has a fighting chance of breaking her maiden tag in the opening mile-and-a-quarter apprentice handicap at Chelmsford's evening meeting.

The three-year-old filly, trained by Charlie Fellowes, has shown bits and pieces of form in seven starts without ever ripping up too many giant oaks.

But she made a fair step in the right direction last time out at Kempton, when a fast-finishing fourth over a mile, to suggest her time is near off what remains a workable mark.

There is also a fair realistic expectation that Beauchamp Opal should come into her own over this longer trip, with Paddy Bradley taking the reins.

CIGARISI is the pick in the extended two-mile handicap hurdle at Taunton with Tom O'Brien on board.

Philip Hobbs' charge hit the mark for the first time when lining up at Plumpton last month, ploughing through heavy ground to win what was probably only an average maiden hurdle event.

He actually impressed more in finishing third on his previous start at Exeter, so a return to better ground here is a huge positive for this five-year-old.

EVENING HUSH, with Conor Ring in the saddle, should be backed in the four-year-old fillies' handicap hurdle at Warwick.

Evan Williams' representative is a really smart horse, with a Listed success and a Grade One runner-up place at Chepstow already on the CV.

She also travelled strongly for a long way in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but wilted late on and finished 12th. It barely goes without saying that this is much easier.