MONDAY'S SELECTIONS:

PLUMPTON: 1.00 Nearly A Breeze, 1.30 Tuskar Rock, 2.00 Its Tough, 2.30 Mortar, 3.00 Harlequinn Danseur, 3.30 Mystical Star, 4.00 Firedog.

WARWICK: 1.10 Art Trend, 1.40 My Condor, 2.10 Phar Again, 2.40 Afsoun, 3.10 Starburst Diamond, 3.40 Tradingup, 4.10 Santia.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 2.20 Svindal, 2.50 New Beginning, 3.20 Sir Ike, 3.50 Climate, 4.20 Tikka Masala, 4.50 Covert Mission, 5.20 TAKEOVER BID (NAP).

DOUBLE: Takeover Bid and Afsoun.

Takeover Bid was slightly disappointing when down the field at Brighton, but he seems to have been found a winnable opportunity in the second division of the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Maiden Stakes on Monday.

Mark Johnston's colt had to go down as a major eyecatcher when third on his debut at Leicester.

He did not appear to know what was expected of him early on but the penny dropped in the closing stages and he passed the post a close-up third.

He was a much shorter price for his most recent outing in Sussex and although he could only finish sixth, it was probably a decent event and the winner Headline Act is certainly above average.

Takeover Bid would appear to be facing a much easier assignment here and looks sure to get involved in the finish.

Tikka Masala ran fifth in what was a decent maiden at Nottingham on her debut and an improved effort is expected in the Sponsor A Race Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

The juvenile was beaten just over seven lengths by a smart newcomer in Harry Patch and ran as though the experience will not have been lost on her.

Her trainer Tom Dascombe has enjoyed a fantastic season overall with his youngsters and while this filly may not be one of his brighter lights, he clearly thinks she has a race in her before the end of the campaign.

Afsoun makes an intriguing debut over fences at Warwick.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old is twice a Grade Two scorer over hurdles and also finished third in the 2007 Champion Hurdle.

Although his temperament has occasionally been questioned at the highest level, Afsoun is undeniably a classy sort possessing enviable speed and strong elements of stamina.

Such traits will stand him in good stead on his fencing bow in the two-mile Commscope Solutions And Anixter Business Partners Novices' Chase.

Its Tough can preserve his unbeaten record in the Ricoh UK ''National Hunt'' Novices' Hurdle at Plumpton.

The Pipe team consistently excel with this type of animal and look to have another decent recruit in the making judged by his Perth win in September.

After having been put away since winning a Worcester bumper in April, Its Tough defeated the reasonable Diamond Frontier by a length on his hurdling debut - despite running green for a long way.

It seems a given that Its Tough will improve from that outing.

David Pipe looks to have found him a nice race with which to bring home the hat-trick.