Middleham trainer Patrick Haslam, who won the big hurdle race at Haydock on Saturday with the unbeaten King Revo, switches his mind back to Flat racing at Southwell tomorrow.
Haslam, equally adept at turning out winners under both codes, saddles Abrogate in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Maiden Handicap and Gavin Faulkner's mount is napped to oblige.
The three-year-old ran a fair race over this course and distance on his latest outing when chasing home the favourite Rare Coincidence.
Although that race was only a seller, tomorrow's contest is hardly any better and, with the Haslam horses in useful form, Abrogate is selected to lose his maiden tag.
Jamie Spencer, keeping his eye in on the sand before taking-up his eagerly-awaited role next month as first jockey to Aidan O'Brien, has good prospects of a Southwell double.
Spencer, last year's St Leger-winning jockey, teams-up with Prince Of Blues in the Bet Direct Handicap over five furlongs and I expect Mick Mullineaux's hardy sprinter to make a bold bid.
A respectable second to the in-form Hurricane Coast at Lingfield on his latest outing, four weeks ago, Prince Of Blues can win if repeating that performance on this slower surface.
Spencer also has good prospects aboard Feast Of Romance in the Bet Direct Selling Stakes. Paul Howling's charge is nothing if not consistent and he's also a previous winner on this Fibresand surface.
Karl Burke, currently on holiday in Antigua, can take the opening honours with Daintree Affair.
The speedy four-year-old, set to be ridden by George Baker, has every chance of going well, not least because Burke's horses are in fine form, his Middleham yard having produced two winners during his absence, including Daring Affair on this course yesterday.
Tomorrow's jumping action centres on Folkestone, where Nonantais deserves attention in the folkestone-racecourse.co.uk Beginners' Chase.
The seven-year-old, trained by Mark Bradstock, developed into a very useful hurdler last season, winning twice before finishing second in a valuable race at Sandown.
Nonantais looks to have all the credentials to make a successful transition to steeplechasing and this event looks a good starting point for him to launch his new career.
Misty Dancer, easy winner of his only outing so far, promises to take plenty of beating in her follow-up bid in the Burmarsh Novices' Hurdle.
Venetia Williams' gelding sauntered home with five lengths to spare at Taunton last month and looks a useful prospect in the making. Accomplished claimer Sam Thomas again has the mount tomorrow.
Tuesday's tips:
Southwell
1.10 Daintree Affair, 1.40 Abrogate (Nap), 2.10 Pilgrim Princess, 2.40 Turks And Caicos, 3.10 Zak Facta, 3.40 Prince Of Blues, 4.10 Feast Of Romance, 4.40 Sonderborg.
Folkestone
2.00 I'm For Waiting, 2.30 Native Ivy, 3.00 Nonantais, 3.30 Misty Dancer, 4.00 Barcham Again, 4.30 The Kings Fling, 5.00 Janbre.
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Wolverhampton.
Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was: So Sober (1.50 at Wolverhampton).
Updated: 13:31 Monday, February 16, 2004
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