MUSSELBURGH-BOUND Millagros (1.10) makes stacks of appeal in division two of the Tom McConnell Novices Hurdle.

Ian Semple's five-year-old mare made a promising debut over hurdles when runner-up to Zanjeer at Catterick ten days ago. She actually led and appeared home and hosed at the second last flight, only to succumb to Zanjeer's superior speed on the dash to the line.

Millagros was no slouch when raced on the flat in the summer, accounting for quite a useful field when scoring at Ayr over one mile in August.

She acts on any ground, and provided her jockey doesn't hit the front too soon this time, holds strong claims at the Scottish resort.

According to trainer David Parker, there was a valid reason for the poor run of Gangsters R Us at the course recently, because the gelding numbingly knocked his leg and as a result had to be pulled up.

Excuses aside, Gangters R Us is known to be something of a softie, so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on in the Kilmany Cup Handicap Chase, a contest in which he should figure prominently, given the nine-year-old's decent track record.

Bob Buckler reported that his horses had mucky noses in early December, but the problem has now cleared up, raising hopes of victory for Kittemat (1.20) in the opening two-mile Handicap Chase at Towcester.

Ideally Kittemat could do with a longer trip, however on the plus side Towcester presents one of the country's stiffest tests of stamina, not to mention having top amateur, Robert Stephens, to aid his cause.

Despite having unseated his jockey on both of his last two starts, Never Awol (2.20) still gets the nod in the Compare Odds Handicap Chase.

Never Awol's most recent course and distance visit was most unfortunate since he was still tanking along at the fourth last fence, only to fire his rider out of the saddle with a clumsy leap at the obstacle.

By getting a tune from the 40-1 runner-up Longstone Lass at Catterick, Caroline Metcalfe succeeded where other more experienced pilots such as Henry Oliver had failed.

Having excelled on the selection, it therefore comes as no surprise that trainer Richard Guest has decided to give Caroline another go on the daughter of Wizard King, a decent each-way contender for the closing Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

Few would argue that Quito is the best horse David Chapman has ever trained.

Quito (3.30), a former winner of the Ayr Gold Cup, rounded off his 2004 campaign with a win on turf at Doncaster, showing he retains all of his old enthusiasm.

Humping top-weight to victory in the feature event at Wolverhampton, the £20,000 Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap, is no easy task, but he's the class act in the line-up and with regular rider, Tony Culhane, now back from injury, a big run is on the cards.

Having suffered the agony of the last two naps finishing second, I'm taking a leaf out of Steve Harmison's new approach to batting and trying all-out attack on the likely long-priced, Little Brave (1.30).

Although Little Brave hasn't been seen out for well over two years, he boasted some fair staying performances in his heyday, goes well fresh, and will get every assistance from the excellent Emily Jones in the two-mile Bet Direct Amateur Riders' Handicap.

* Dr Jon Scargill was fined £500 by the Jockey Club's disciplinary panel following an altercation with a veterinary technician during an identification process at Yarmouth.

The panel held an inquiry to consider whether the Newmarket trainer had committed a breach of Rule 220 (ii), which states that ''no person shall act in any violent or improper manner'' on a racecourse, in respect of his behaviour on May 14 last year.

Having considered representations from the Jockey Club and taking into account that Scargill had been given five previous adjournments, the panel rejected Scargill's defence that the incident did not happen or, if it did, it did not concern him, because they preferred the evidence of the veterinary technicians.