Lord Omni, trained at Maunby near Thirsk by David Barron, can gain his second success at Southwell tomorrow.

The promising four-year-old bids for the John Schlesinger Handicap over seven furlongs and is napped to prevail in the hands of York jockey Dean Mernagh.

Lord Omni, a winner on the turf at Thirsk last season, opened his all-weather account on this course a fortnight ago when getting the better of Royal Romeo by a neck.

That race, over six furlongs, was plenty sharp enough for Lord Omini, who is likely to appreciate tomorrow's extra furlong.

York trainer John Parkes has been enjoying a nice little run lately and Genuine John can keep it going by landing division two of the Auld Deer Handicap over two miles.

The mount of apprentice Chris Catlin, Genuine John has twice run respectably in defeat since winning on this track.

Flying Faisal, who missed a tempting opportunity at Wolverhampton today to wait for Southwell, should be granted plenty of respect in the Bumper Car Day Handicap. Shane Kelly takes the mount on Jamie Osborne's three-year-old.

Over the sticks at Kelso, Direct Access can further his glowing reputation by completing a hat-trick of wins in the Weatherbys Marketing Services Novices' Hurdle. Len Lungo's Irish import has won both his races at Ayr this season in runaway style.

Crazy Horse could be another winner for Lungo, in the Border Precision Novices' Chase.

This former high-class hurdler, sure to be all the better for a recent comeback outing at Ayr, has the right credentials to make his name as a chaser and I anticipate him making a winning debut over fences tomorrow.

Tomorrow's National Hunt programme at Sandown going ahead depended on an inspection at 3pm this afternoon.

Today's Sandown card as well as the hurdle races tomorrow were abandoned yesterday, with the steeplechases from both days combined for tomorrow's meeting.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said today: "The improvement in the condition of the chase course has disappointed me. There remains a concern as to the raceability of the course in one area."

Updated: 13:31 Thursday, February 15, 2001