Christiansted represents terrific each-way value in today's £125,000 Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. Ferdy Murphy's fast improving four-year-old sneaks into the bottom of the weights for this stayers' test.
And although he is 7lb out of the handicap, Murphy has engaged Reg Hollinshead's good 7lb claimer Paul Quinn to take his racing weight down to 7st 3lb.
Christiansted, an Irish import, reeled off three very easy wins over hurdles in February. And when his attentions were turned to the Flat, he saw off 19 rivals in a mile-and-a-half handicap at Ripon.
He pulled too hard when only fourth at Kempton on his next start but bounced back at Nottingham last time, only having to be pushed out to beat Miss Pin Up by one and three-quarter lengths in a mile and three-quarter apprentices' handicap. He is 7lb higher here but Quinn's claim arguably negates that rise.
Admittedly this is a big step up in class but Christiansted looked well treated and is far too big a price at around 33 to 1.
James Fanshawe's Travel-mate must be feared. He reappeared in a 12-furlong conditions race - at Newcastle - last month and appeared to run above himself.
He certainly ran right up to his mark in finishing a length second to Marcus Maximus - officially rated 13lb his superior - in receipt of 14lb. And two and a half lengths away third, at level weights, he had The Fly, rated 7lb the better. Travel-mate should benefit from the step up to two miles.
Another interesting runner is Ballet-K, a triple National Hunt Flat race winner who opened his account under Flat rules when beating Legend of Love by a head at Bath.
Diktat is the best bet at Newmarket to give Godolphin yet another big race victory in the £35,000 Van Geest Criterion Stakes. The four-year-old showed an impressive turn of foot to win the £100,000 Dubai Sports Shergar Cup Seven at Goodwood.
Diktat won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot for David Loder last year and Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford enthused: "He is a very, very classy horse. He can really go all the way to the top." Those are bullish comments indeed for a stable with such a powerful armoury.
Tancred Arms enjoyed no sort of run at all at Carlisle on Wednesday and is worth another chance when she makes a quick reappearance at Doncaster in the Furniture Factors And Northern Racing College Apprentice Maiden Handicap.
Later, Jimmy Quinn can roust Stravsea to an overdue success in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Fillies' Handicap.
At Lingfield, Coastguards Hero can win the Norcal-SCP Louisiana Selling Handicap for the second successive year for trainer Brian Arthur Pearce.
Berlioz can keep the ball rolling for Godolphin in the feature `On The House' Stakes at Goodwood tomorrow. This strongly-built colt showed smart form as a juvenile when trained by David Loder and, after winning a Newbury maiden on his debut, ran a fine race to finish second, beaten five lengths by high-class Enrique at Newmarket.
Sent to Dubai for the winter Berlioz reappeared in a German Group Two contest and ran a creditable race to finish three and three-quarter lengths sixth behind top local horse Sumitas.
Sure to be at his peak now, Berlioz looks worth backing to take this Listed race, named in honour of the 1982 Sussex Stakes winner.
Omaha City can repeat a recent course and distance win in The Mail On Sunday Millennium Mile (Qualifier).
At Doncaster, King Priam, who ran well at the track back in March, can spring a surprise in the Fund For Epilepsy Stakes (Showcase Handicap).
