CHRIS THORNTON is the man worth following at the moment and Rajah can continue the trainer's purple patch by landing the Pinkie Pillars Handicap at Musselburgh today.

The Middleham handler's last sortie into Scotland proved fruitful when Eau de Cologne and Lord Hastie were successful at Hamilton on Thursday, contributing to an across the card treble - only the second in Thornton's 19 year career - started off at Cheltenham by Five To Seven.

And with eight Flat winners so far this term, five in the last fortnight, the Master of Spigot Lodge is more than halfway to beating last year's total of 15 victories.

Rajah has already contributed to that total, justifying favouritism to beat seven rivals on his first handicap outing at Wolverhampton last month. The significant aspect of the victory was that Rajah was racing over an extended mile for the first time following an early season all weather campaign over six and seven furlongs.

He steps up in distance once again here but the extra three furlongs should prove no problem neither should the extra four pounds he has been raised by the handicapper for his Wolverhampton success. The ease and manner of Rajah's victory suggests there is much more in the locker and looks the pick.

Miss Offset should benefit from the drop back to plating company in the Eskmill Selling Handicap. Another who has had a busy campaign on the sand, Mark Johnston's charge loves to dominate and has gained both her victories this term from the front.

On a course which suits those who operate that way, if she can build up a sizeable lead, this three year old will take some pegging back in today's seven furlong event.

. Lo Stregone, making progress along the road to recovery after missing the Martell Grand National, is rated a "60-40" chance to seek compensation in its Stakis sponsored Scottish equivalent, his trainer Tom Tate revealed yesterday.