THORNABY GREEN (3.20) has ticks in all the right boxes at Hamilton's opening flat fixture of the current turf campaign.

Although David Barron's sprinter faces stiff competition from his 15 rivals in the six-furlong Sam Is Back Handicap, it is still possible to build a strong case for the speedy four-year-old.

First and foremost, Thornaby Green showed his liking for the Scottish track when scoring in July 2004 over course and distance. Secondly, the selection runs off exactly the same mark of 61 as when victorious on that occasion.

And last but far from least, the North Yorkshire-trained raider made a most promising return to action by finishing fourth at Catterick even though he had to contend with an awful outside draw.

Having run badly when tipped up to win at Nottingham last time out, Ashes (3.50) gets one more chance to show us what she's really made of in the Rectangle Group Handicap.

Karl Burke's filly is rather a fizzy individual and she may well have lost her chance at the start when appearing to get herself in a bit of stew.

Ashes had previously produced a blistering late burst to take the money at Catterick, a stirring performance that entitles her to respect in the five-furlong sprint.

In common with a few of Mark Johnston's older horses, Marias Magic (4.20) started life with Irish wonder trainer, John Oxx.

Oxx brought her over to win a maiden at Bath last weekend, prior to being loaded up in Johnston's horse-box for the purposes of travelling to training pastures anew at Middleham.

Marias Magic hasn't been over-rated by the handicapper and should be well capable of holding her own in the mile-and-a-half Daily Record Stakes.

The opening Claiming Stakes at Wolverhampton might not be the best race in the world, but it offers the opportunity to make a decent profit by siding with Keep On Movin' (2.30).

The Terry Mills-trained Epsom representative was taking on far better company when not beaten far into fourth spot behind Pont Nuef at Folkestone recently.

Today's contest is a pretty big drop in class compared to that event, so by rights the four-year-old should find things far easier, especially the business end of the race when his superior stamina could well make all of the difference.

My best news on the evening card at Southwell revolves around Bint Royal (7.50), who was patently unsuited by a rain-sodden surface at Thirsk on her latest outing.

Vicky Haigh's mare had run a cracker when third over an inadequate five furlongs the time before, an encouraging effort that signalled Bint Royal's turn was imminent.

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