If you're preparing to support some sand specialists at Southwell tomorrow - forget it!

The Midlands course, best known for its all-weather status, is switching to Flat-racing on turf for the first time in six years at the first of three meetings between now and the end of May to judge their popularity.

Several trainers may well have been caught out by tomorrow's change of racing surface, as there is a bumper entry, bolstered by numerous horses who are regulars on the sand.

As it is, only one of the races, the opening two-year-old maiden, will be staged on the artificial surface, and the vote goes to Small Fry to make a winning debut.

The youngster is trained by Tim Easterby, who opened his account for the season at Nottingham yesterday with 25-1 shot Tondyne. Furthermore, Small Fry will be partnered by Kevin Darley, who has made a flying start to the new campaign.

Reckoned to be pretty sharp, nap selection Small Fry can make a big impression tomorrow.

Rayyaan deserves attention in the three-year-old maiden stakes.

Neil Graham's colt showed consistent ability last season and was a little unfortunate not to open his winning account. He can do so tomorrow with Richard Hills in the saddle.

Karl Burke, on the mark at Nottingham yesterday with Forty Forte, can lift the mile-a-and-half handicap with Achilles Sky.

Jason Weaver's mount was very lightly-raced last season, but won at Newcastle and gives the impression that the best of him is yet to come.

Newmarket trainer Dave Morris has booked Lincoln-winning jockey Jimmy Fortune for the mount on Alabama Wurley in the fillies' handicap, and the hint should be taken.

Over the sticks at Carlisle, Ryalux looks good for the Ashleybank NSPCC Caring For Children Novices' Chase.

Micky Hammond's gelding has won his last two races, both at Newcastle, in the style of a progressive performer. Coming back to the minimum trip from two-and-and-half miles tomorrow should not inconvenience him and a hat-trick looks on the cards.

Colin Parker has his horses in excellent trim at present and the Lockerbie trainer can make his presence felt tomorrow on a course where he saddled a double at the previous meeting last month.

Harlov, who was rewarded for his consistency when justifying favouritism at Ayr three weeks ago, has good prospects of completing a double in the opening P&N Chamberlain Pearl Wedding Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.