Biniou just the type to get juices flowing; PIETRO INNOCENZI on Tuesday.

Byline: PIETRO INNOCENZI

BEFORE my punting took a long overdue turn for the better this week I was seriously considering supplementing my income through donations - a la Mark Lester - as I'd heard the banks were suffering a severe shortage, not unlike their financial brethren, and were willing to pay for the pleasure.

I appear to fit the main criteria: aged 18-50, in relatively good health and able to abstain for lengthy periods, but further research revealed that, unlike in the US where it's not uncommon to earn a living from donating, you're looking at an expenses-only payment in the UK of around pounds 55, which wouldn't even cover the cost of the pounds 10 Patent I intend to place at Nottingham this evening.

The feature race is the John Smith's Extra Smooth Ciswo Conditions Stakes (7.55). Although there are three Group winners in the field, namely Masta Plasta, Dandy Man and Wi Dud, they have all struggled to get their head in front this season and it could be worth siding with Biniou, who won his first two starts of the season before failing to get competitive back up in trip in the Stewards' Cup ten days ago.

Robert Cowell's six-year-old was sent off joint-second favourite at Goodwood, but he was never at the races after a slow start and, from what could be made out through the sea fret, it appeared that Richard Hughes looked after him with another day in mind.

Biniou had previously made short work of the opposition in a good time

at Newmarket under top weight, and an ultra-confident Jamie Spencer should be able to ride him in a similar way tonight tucked in behind a field consisting of horses who are usually ridden more prominently.

This is obviously tougher, but Biniou has looked back to the form he showed when a Listed winner in France a couple of years ago. The son of Mozart is fully effective on an easy surface and the drop back to the minimum trip should suit as the majority of his wins have come over 5f.

Although the going at Nottingham is described as soft, and patchy rain was forecast yesterday, it's been warm and dry for several days now and I'm not convinced conditions are going to be that testing, in which case Maoi Chinn Tire enters calculations in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Nursery (7.25).

Stan Moore's juvenile had a couple of starts very early in the season but showed the benefit of a ten-week break to chase home subsequent Goodwood winner Bluie in a Haydock seller last month before finding the step up to 7f just beyond him when third at Newbury nine days ago after hitting the front a furlong out.

Taking into account the exploits of Bluie and the fact that Maoi Chinn Tire raced from 4lb out of the handicap at Newbury, he has to be considered favourably handicapped tonight off a mark of 60.

We're obviously taking a chance with the ground, which will be the softest he's encountered even if the track escapes the rain, but with four last-time-out winners in the field likely to help his price and the return to 6f almost certain to suit, I reckon it's justified.

In fact, the ground is less of a concern than the way Maoi Chinn Tire hung left on his last two starts, but that didn't prevent him from picking up well and hitting the front at Newbury and I'd expect Luke Morris to produce him later on today in order to nullify any repeat antics.

Weet A Surprise is something of an all-weather specialist, with five of her six wins coming in that sphere, but there hasn't been much wrong with her recent efforts on turf and she's capable of being in the shake-up in the John Smith's Handicap (8.25).

The four-year-old has been revitalised since joining James Unett in April. The trainer immediately equipped the filly with a visor, and a four-length win at Wolverhampton in June suggests she's not far off the form that saw her rate in the mid-70s as a juvenile. Although yet to break her turf duck for Unett, Weet A Surprise has made the frame in her last three starts and races off the same mark in a contest that doesn't look any stronger.

She is ideally suited by cut in the ground and she ran better than the margin of defeat suggested on heavy here last time when coming out best on the stands' side in a contest dominated by two who were centretrack throughout. If she holds her form, she must have strong place prospects again at least.

Today's bets Maoi Chinn Tire 7.25 Nottingham 1pt win

Biniou 7.55 Nottingham 1pt win

Weet A Surprise 8.25 Nottingham 1pt each-way

CAPTION(S):

Stan Moore: good chance with Maoi Chinn Tire at Nottingham