For many, it's the real start of the Flat turf season tomorrow as the Craven meeting at Newmarket gets underway and Britain's major stables wake-up from their winter slumber.

Sir Michael Stoute, with one runner and one winner -- Lincoln Handicap hero Streams Of Gold -- to his credit, is among the big names in action on his local course. He should not return home empty-handed.

Notnowcato, placed in both his races last season, will be a popular choice among punters to make it third time lucky as he returns to action in the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes, with Mick Kinane in the saddle.

Kinane, who, along with York-based Robert Winston and, perhaps, one or two other riders, will be riding the bulk of Sir Michael's horses this season, also teams-up with Hornpipe for the stable in the Exning Handicap over six furlongs.

A five lengths winner at Nottingham last summer, the lightly-raced Hornpipe deserves every consideration in his first handicap.

The Stoute-Kinane partnership is represented by the well-bred Aviemore in the Museum Maiden Stakes and any market move for this previously unraced colt would be significant.

There are several other high-powered stables introducing potentially useful performers in this ten-furlong race, but on this occasion I am prepared to row-in with a horse who has had some experience.

Clueless, trained by William Haggas, showed definite signs of promise in his two runs last autumn and appeals as the type to improve considerably this term. Significantly, Kieren Fallon, Stoute's number-one jockey before he elected to move to Aidan O'Brien in February, has been booked by Haggas for the ride.

King Forever, who occupied fourth place behind Museeb at Doncaster, misses Newmarket in favour of travelling to Musselburgh for the more modest Central Taxis Maiden Stakes and is awarded my Nap vote.

Although beaten a long way by Museeb, King Forever looks capable of winning at this level, and trainer Jeremy Noseda has engaged Robert Winston to do the steering.

Winston, who has a busy afternoon, could also collect on the speedy Mecca's Mate in the Forth2 Fillies' Handicap. Mecca's Matre was second recently in a race on the all-weather circuit.

Tomorrow's tips

Newmarket

1.45 Clueless, 2.20 Cool Creek, 2.55 Museeb, 3.25 Audience, 4.00 Notnowcato, 4.35 Shannon Springs, 5.10 Hornpipe.

Musselburgh

2.00 The History Man, 2.35 Ballyhurry, 3.05 Nounou, 3.40 Locombe Hill, 4.15 King Forever (Nap), 4.50 Mecca's Mate.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Exeter.

Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was: Flag Lieutenant (3.10 at Lingfield).

Updated: 09:46 Monday, April 11, 2005