Penwell Hill, an easy winner at Southwell nine days ago, has excellent prospects of following-up over the same course and distance tomorrow.

But the gelding will be without his regular rider, Dean Mernagh, who will be at Portman Square, London, attending a Jockey Club appeal hearing.

Malton-based Mernagh will be defending his use of the whip on recent Southwell winner Mr Gisby, who beat Inch Perfect by two lengths.

Mernagh was adjudged to have struck Inch Perfect three times across the face, but the stewards, unable to satisfy themselves that the action was intentional, took no action and allowed the result to stand.

Richard Fahey, the trainer of Inch Perfect, has appealed against the original verdict and the hearing is tomorrow.

Dean McKeown comes in for the ride on Penwell Hill in the opening race, the Bet Direct Handicap, and the David Barron-trained four-year-old is napped to defy a 6lb penalty.

McKeown and Barron can complete a first-and-last-race double with Wahoo Sam in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap.

A winner at Southwell and at Thirsk last season, Wahoo Sam is held in high regard by Barron, who feels he is a horse who can really come into his own this season as a three-year-old.

Bryan Smart has made a tremendous start since moving from Lambourn to the famous Hambleton yard at the top of Sutton Bank last October.

Smart is a regular visitor to Southwell and can complete a double tomorrow with two recent winners on the course, Brandy Cove (1.40) and Beady (2.10).

Hopes are high that the jumping meetings at Warwick and Plumpton will go ahead.

Trainer Lawrence Wells has good prospects of making his presence felt at Warwick. Wells can win the Kenilworth Classified Hurdle with Estupendo, who gave notice of better things to come when finishing fourth in a maiden hurdle at Folkestone last time.

Our Jolly Swagman, who looks to be returning to form on the evidence of his recent third-placed effort at Plumpton, is fancied to fulfill that promise by winning the warwickracecourse.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Flying Gunner may now be in the twilight of his career, but Alan King's 12-year-old looks to have a good chance of defying his veteran status in the Burton Green Handicap Hurdle.

Tomorrow's Tips

Southwell

12.35 Penwell Hill (Nap), 1.10 Adalpour, 1.40 Brandy Cove, 2.10 Beady, 2.40 Dancing Kay, 3.10 If I Can Dream, 3.40 Geronimo, 4.10 Wahoo Sam.

Warwick

12.45 Flying Gunner, 1.20 Montalcino, 1.50 Our Jolly Swagman, 2.20 Lewis Island, 2.50 Our Tommy, 3.20 Estupendo.

Tomorrow's other scheduled meeting is at Plumpton.

Updated: 17:12 Wednesday, January 22, 2003