American World has scope to improve stepped up in trip; ON MONDAY.

Byline: MARK WINSTANLEY

AT the beginning of November many moons ago, yours truly used to sit outside a Dean's Turf Accountant emporium in darkest Downham, with a face painted on a football screaming at the top of my lungs "Penny for the Guy".

My reasoning for parking up at this establishment rather than Woolworth's or Our Price - that takes you back a bit - was that a winning Wagon Shunter was more likely to throw me a bit of Rifle Range, than a spotty teenager purchasing the latest offering from the Boomtown Rats.

Things were ticking along nicely until it all went Pete Tong one fateful Saturday afternoon, when a nasty piece of work emerged from the bookies and booted my Guy halfway to Catford.

"Get yourself a proper job, you four-eyed ponce," cried this unsavoury character, who looked a bit like Bill Sykes as memorably portrayed by Oliver Reed.

This nasty incident scarred me for life, so when I saw a trio of youngsters outside Sainsbury's in Locksbottom the other day hawking for readies, it was time to stick some shrapnel into their coffers.

"Sorry, fatty, we don't accept loose change, only notes and credit cards," smirked the ringleader, who had a large chain swinging from his Gregory Peck, and looked a poor man's Eminem.

What is the world coming to? One way of keeping the wolf from the door is to snap up the 7-2 on offer with Victor Chandler about Midday landing the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (11.02pm) over 1m2f at Santa Anita, California, on Saturday evening. Henry Cecil's Oaks runner-up is different class to last year's winner and ante-post favourite Forever Together, and she will bounce off the fast surface.

Last time out at Longchamp on Arc day, Midday finished third in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera, and after the race Cecil blamed himself for being too easy on the three-year-old. Word from Newmarket is that Midday is working the house down on the Limekilns and, with Dar Re Mi likely to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf, the path is open for victory.

The form of her second to Sariska at Epsom is much better than anything the locals have on offer, and I rate Midday a good thing to give HRAC his first winner at this prestigious meeting - so snap up the 7-2, as she should be a 7-4 shot.

Plumpton is one of my favourite courses, and I hope to get to the friendly Sussex venue in order to back American World in the 2m4f Breeders' Cup Live On ATR Handicap Chase (3.30).

JP McManus' five-year-old has ample scope to improve, and he shaped like an animal crying out for a step up in distance when fifth over 2m at Uttoxeter last month on his seasonal bow. American World landed a three-runner egg-andspoon event over today's trip at Huntingdon when rated 98 in April, and I shall be amazed if Brendan Powell's scopey sort cannot win a weak race like this off a perch of 104.

Nicky Henderson's 144-rated hurdler Duc De Regniere is sure to attract plenty of support in the 2m4f Kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase (3.05). But this horse took to jumping fences two seasons ago like a duck to ice and he must be given the Spanish archer, as he would prefer a longer distance.

Pasco has to give the likely favourite 7lb, but Paul Nicholls' second-season chaser is much more professional over his fences, and the grey loves a flat track, as proved by his three victories at Newbury and one at Huntingdon. I can envisage Ruby Walsh leading on Terry Warner's charge shortly after the starter mounts his rostrum, and exposing the flaws in Duc De Regniere's fencing. Battlecry has more Ps to his name than an incontinent lager taster, and while Sir Harry Ormesher has gone well fresh in the past many of Alan King's inmates are just needing their seasonal debuts.

But no Sunbury fixture would be complete without Henderson visiting the winner's enclosure, so Dont Tell The Wife will carry my hard-earned in the Win A Kia Soul Handicap Chase (3.40) over 3m. It's significant that he runs this novice in this company after just one run over fences, at Fontwell last month, as it tells us first, that the wily fox must believe Dont Tell The Wife is well treated, and secondly, that the horse can jump well enough to hold his own against experienced fencers. As my selection captured a competitive Sandown handicap hurdle off 105 in March, 110 looks a very manageable mark.

Today's bets Pasco 3.05 Kempton 3pts win American World 3.30 Plumpton 1pt win Dont Tell The Wife 3.40 Kempton 2pts win Midday Santa Anita, Friday 5pts win at 7-2 (generally)