CATTERICK'S first Flat fixture of the year features a competitive seven-race card providing a pleasing mixture of sprints and long-distance races.

The meeting starts with a fascinating two-miler featuring previous course and distance scorer, Spring Breeze, trained at Denton, near Darlington, by Michael Dods.

Michael has wasted no time getting his turf team going, picking last week's seller at Pontefract with the grand nine-year-old campaigner, Bundy.

By way of contrast, Spring Breeze (2.00) is five years younger and, according to his canny handler, could again be in the money over the coming few months.

"I think he'll have a cracking season because Spring Breeze is a much stronger horse this year," revealed Dods in an interview for our annual pull-out, Racing North.

Optimistic words, but it's an opinion not without foundation since the free-wheeling four-year-old has the ability to set off in front, and stay there through his relentless galloping style.

Much-improved hurdler, Far Pavilions (3.50), is another stayer well worth paying close attention to in the later Harry Chapman Birthday Handicap.

Trained just a few miles up the road from the course by Alan Swinbank at Melsonby, Far Pavilions showed he was in good heart when winning a valuable National Hunt event at Musselburgh in February.

Alan, who has been enjoying tremendous success out in Dubai with his stable-star, Collier Hill, has resisted the temptation to over- exert Far Pavilions in the jumps arena this winter, doubtless in the hope of capitalising with his gelding in the far less dangerous sphere of competing on the level.

At the other end of the distance spectrum, speed devotees get their chance to be involved in the dash for the cash over five furlongs for the totesport Big Screen Handicap.

Karl Burke hasn't got far to travel with Ashes (2.50) from his Spigot Lodge base at Middleham, a hint well worth taking, especially as the three-year-old was the subject of significant market support when narrowly beaten by Angelofthenorth ten days ago.

Mark Johnston unleashes one of his big guns courtesy of 2004 Ascot Gold Cup third, Darasim, in Nottingham's Further Flight Stakes.

Darasim's definitely the class act in the field, but he could easily face a stern challenge from stable-mate Mana d'Argent, who ran extremely well on his seasonal turf reappearance at Musselburgh when third to Swift Sailor.

One of the most popular sprinters in training, Tom Tun (3.10), seemingly holds all of the aces in the April Conditions Stakes.

I was on hand to see John Balding's ten-year-old raider at Doncaster last Thursday, and despite advancing years he really did look in magnificent nick by strutting around the parade ring with the swagger of a horse half his age.

Neither did Tom Tun run poorly, beating all bar Merlins Dancer in a red-hot event that appeared on paper to be a stiffer test than the one he faces this afternoon.

* Higher Love did her Classic credentials no harm when making most of the running for an impressive victory in the Kentish Express Maiden Fillies Stakes at Folkestone.

The daughter of Sadler's Wells relished the good to soft conditions and was merely punched out by Frankie Dettori for a length-and-a-half success from Ticki Tori in the extended nine-furlong event.

Sent off the 4-5 favourite, the Michael Bell-trained filly is now on course for one of the Oaks trials.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.