Mark Johnston usually starts to make hay with his huge army of juveniles at this time of year and Alcalde looks a likely winner of Leicester�s ladbrokes.com Squirrel Conditions Stakes.

Mark Johnston usually starts to make hay with his huge army of juveniles at this time of year and Alcalde looks a likely winner of Leicester's ladbrokes.com Squirrel Conditions Stakes.

A son of Hernando out of a stoutly bred mare, he was always going to need a trip and a winning debut over a mile, by no less than seven lengths, suggests he possesses lots of stamina.

Naturally, Johnston steps him up to 10 furlongs for his second start and it will be disappointing if he fails to follow up as his rivals look exposed.

Luca Cumani was out of luck with Swop in the Cambridgeshire but can gain minor compensation with Kossack in the ladbrokes.com Quorn Handicap.

The three-year-old was a beaten favourite in a good event at Yarmouth last time but nevertheless put up a career-best effort when third behind a smart sort in Fiulin.

He had looked a typical Cumani improver before that, gradually getting better with every run before breaking his duck at the fourth time of asking.

That was at Ripon, where Kossack fairly bolted up by six lengths, after which he was handed a mark of 88 by the assessor.

The Sadler's Wells colt travelled well throughout in the Yarmouth event, which attracted a good field, but the winner was given a canny ride by Ted Durcan from the front and kicked on again a furlong out.

Kossack got to within half-a-length at one stage but looked a non-stayer over the one-mile six-furlong trip. This return to nearly a mile-and-a-half can see him back on the winning trail.

Bryan Smart's Kheleyf's Silver looks the best bet on the card at Catterick in division two of the 18th October Is totesport Saturday Maiden Stakes.

There was nothing to get excited about after her Newcastle debut but sent to Catterick for her next start, she improved considerably and only just came off second best in a protracted battle with Doctor Parkes.

She was only beaten a head and the two got very close on the run-in, which would not have helped her cause. Smart has given Kheleyf's Silver plenty of time to overcome those exertions and she would not have to improve much to break her duck.

Sprinters in form are always worth following and that is certainly the case with Haajes in the Westenhanger Handicap at Folkestone.

Stewart Parr's four-year-old is in the middle of a golden spell and only a lack of stamina has stopped him winning his last three races.

He is really a five-furlong specialist but very nearly hung on to gain his first victory over six at Windsor last week. Returned to the minimum trip at Redcar on Saturday, he had no trouble collecting. Despite his 6lb penalty for this event, Haajes' claims are obvious.