Let it rain can claim his first success in Britain when he tries a new trip for the first time in today's Ladbroke Showcase Handicap.

The five-year-old, twice a winner from three starts in New Zealand last year, has had four races for Mark Johnston, shaping well on each occasion.

Having scored over a mile in the country of his birth, it was a little surprising to see Let It Rain campaigned over shorter trips for his first three starts, but he showed up well each time.

It was over a mile and a half that he made his handicap debut at Epsom, where he failed to get a run at a vital stage before finding no extra for some strong pressure, possibly finding the trip a shade too far.

Now he is dropped back to 10 furlongs, a distance which could just prove to be ideal. Off a fair mark, Let It Rain can take a race which involves a lot of horses who are handicapped to the best of their ability.

First Musical has an obvious chance of defying top weight in the Palan Stakes. Making his seasonal bow in the William Hill Trophy last weekend, Mel Brittain's charge scorched along until caught well inside the final furlong.

Dropped back a furlong to the minimum distance here, and handed a fantastic draw in stall one right on the stands' rail, he ought to be able to dominate from the front throughout and can defy a 6 lb rise in the weights for his effort at York.

The fact that some horses simply cannot translate all-weather form to the turf is perfectly demonstrated by China Castle, a multiple winner on sand - most recently off a handicap mark of 101 - but running in the Melville Craig Handicap at Ayr off 50.

However, he might be worth one more chance in a contest that could be run to suit.

The big field suggests that there should be a strong pace which will enable Patrick Haslam's charge to settle properly, something vital to his chance as China Castle rarely finds much off the bridle.

At Redcar, Ansellman makes plenty of appeal in the Tote Handicap over six furlongs. The Jack Berry-trained grey is just the sort of game performer that you want on your side in races such as these and he got no sort of run at all when fourth at Bath last weekend, being hampered just as he came with a challenge.

A race such as this remains well within the nine-year-old's capabilities.