TEAM SHOWME has a fighting chance of taking top honours when she runs beneath the Newcastle floodlights.

Michael Dods' filly did next to nothing in her first three career starts but certainly looked a different proposition on her handicap debut.

Team Showme was sent off a 14-1 chance in a six-furlong handicap at Southwell and always looked up against it following a tardy start.

But the daughter of Harbour Watch suddenly realised what the game was all about and flew home inside the final furlong.

Team Showme ended up finishing second, beaten three and a half lengths by Precious Silk, which was a non-too-shabby effort given how the race panned out.

The three-year-old has one of the more attractive profiles in this six-furlong apprentices' handicap, while it is good to see the gifted Callum Rodriguez back in the saddle as he did the steering at Southwell.

Having been left untouched by the assessor off a mark of 52, it is hard to envisage Team Showme regressing now that she has finally come to the boil.

Keep close tabs on MR POTTER, who runs in division one of the one-mile handicap.

Richard Guest's chestnut has been in patchy form since he last won a race off a 2lb higher mark in September.

He can be a tricky customer, and has trouble settling in races, but it was pleasing to see him box on into third place at Chelmsford a week ago.

Jockey Connor Beasley will no doubt need to be in a compromising mood but there are races to be won with him off a humble rating of 55.

GRANVILLE ISLAND seems to have been presented with a nice opportunity in which to claim a hat-trick when he rocks up in the Bet At racinguk.com Handicap Chase at Leicester.

Jennie Candlish has the 11-year-old in super nick, with a narrow success at Uttoxeter in January supplemented by a much more authoritative triumph at Carlisle last month.

The handicapper has reacted accordingly but this heavy-ground-loving chaser has won before off a similar sort of mark and ought to take some hauling back in his current frame of mind.

WESTEND STORY should also make an honourable fist of things when he goes for a double in the Team Ethos Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.

Philip Hobbs' seven-year-old has been thumped by the assessor following an easy victory at Wetherby but he is clearly on the march.

SELECTIONS

Ayr: 1.50 Snougar, 2.20 Sporting Milan, 2.50 Strong Economy, 3.25 Charmant, 4.00 Lake View Lad, 4.30 Dick Darsie, 5.05 Dedigout.

Leicester: 2.10 Bollin Ace, 2.40 Granville Island, 3.15 Trojan Star, 3.50 Gustav, 4.20 Numbercruncher, 4.55 Redmond.

Newcastle: 5.45 Natch, 6.15 TEAM SHOWME (NAP), 6.45 Mr Potter, 7.15 Cookie Ring, 7.45 Zadorra, 8.15 Wiff Waff, 8.45 Santafiora.

Sandown: 2.00 Ar Mest, 2.30 No Hiding Place, 3.05 Westend Story, 3.40 More Buck's, 4.10 Tara Bridge, 4.45 Sergeant Brody.

Double: Team Showme and Mr Potter.