Rain in the north will suit Parc De Launay for honours at Gosforth Park

The first race of the traditional three-day 'Pitmen's Derby' fixture at Gosforth Park has attracted a decent looking field for such a small prize, with all bar two of the seven runners having won a race and one of those is a debutant.

Trained by Tom Tate, Parc De Launay was sent off a pretty warm favourite for his debut at Ripon, principally on the basis that his homework had been very promising. Bounced out of the stalls by Jamie Spencer, the Monsieur Bond colt showed plenty of early speed before accounting for a field of admittedly average juveniles by upwards of a length and a quarter.

Tate was slightly worried beforehand about running him on quickish ground so the recent rain in the north will not be a worry, and the way in which Spencer spoke about him afterwards suggested he can take the next step towards something better in his stride.

Mark Jonhston's newcomer Shalloon will not have to be that good to win the Patersons of Greenoakhill Open Maiden Stakes at Hamilton. A 160,000 guineas yearling purchase, he is related to plenty of winners and those to have run do not look up to much.

Roger Varian's Kawssaj ran an eyecatching race on his first start at Haydock and must be backed in division one of the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Stakes at Warwick.