RISING star-of-the-saddle Ben Swarbrick has the chance to further showcase his skills aboard Amelia (2.30) at Lingfield this afternoon.

Swarbrick partners the mare for his boss, Mark Brisbourne, in division 1 of the Sky Interactive Handicap over six furlongs. Although no less than six of her rivals are also previous course and distance scorers, arguably none are as well in at the weights as Amelia, set to carry only eight stone, taking into account Ben's handy 7lb allowance.

Generally speaking a low draw is a big advantage in sprints at the Surrey Polytrack venue, so the fact that Amelia is scheduled to emerge from stall four is another solid reason for supporting the Brisbourne's raider.

Paul Cole normally gives his horses plenty of work at home, therefore Siena Star's 122-day absence from action need not necessarily be a concern to his backers in the mile-and-a-quarter Text Page Handicap.

The booking of Richard Hughes, who could be worth a small each-way punt for this year's jockey's championship, is another positive signal that Siena Star (4.00) is going to come to the table as fit as the proverbial flea after his long winter sabbatical.

Leading lightweight Ryan Moore, just back from a stint riding in Dubai, gets the nod on Burgundy (5.30) in the closing Cashbacks Handicap.

The selection failed to justify favouritism on his latest appearance, prompting Epsom-based handler Philip Mitchell to clap a pair of blinds on his gelding. If the blinkers do as expected have the desired effect on Burgundy, then the mile-and-a-quarter event is well within his remit judged on past performance.

David Chapman has kept some of his string ticking over on the all-weather circuit during the past few months, however one notable exception until now has been Miss Ocean Monarch (4.40).

Lack of finishing speed was her undoing on turf, so the switch to the fibre-sand at Southwell makes perfect sense since such individuals often do far better on the slower-made surfaces, which tend to be more suited to the one-paced, yet relentless galloping types.

After being crowned leading trainer at last week's Cheltenham Festival, Paul Nicholls has every prospect of following up with Majed (3.20) in the big-race at Exeter, the near three-mile Robert Webb Novices' Handicap Chase.

Majed has been a model consistency of late, not once finishing out of the four on his last six outings. The eight-year-old was particularly impressive when slamming Alpine Slave by six lengths at Fontwell in February. He's also a sound jumper, relished the prevailing good to soft ground, plus has the assistance of the irrepressible Ruby Walsh in the plate.

l Richard McGrath took the riding honours and the plaudits when he completed a double on Powder Creek and On The Luce at Wetherby yesterday.

Powder Creek got his head in front on the run to the final flight in the second division of the 'Irish Day' Maiden Hurdle and McGrath drove him out to the line to beat Thrilling Prospect by a length.

Mary Reveley, who now needs only three more winners to take her career score to 2,000 on the Flat and over jumps, confirmed that even if she hits that target soon, she will not hand in her trainer's licence until the summer.

She said: ''Keith (her son and assistant) does not take his trainer's course until the end of May, so I will be carrying on until then. It will be a better time to make the hand-over then, anyway.''

Of McGrath, the Saltburn trainer added: ''I like Richard. He is a very good rider and he really gets horses to jump.''

On The Luce led two out in the Leprechaun Novices' Handicap Chase and McGrath kept him going well to hold off Indian Laburnum by one and a half lengths, with Benefit a similar distance away in third.

Pauline Robson, saddling her third winner since taking out a full licence, said: ''On The Luce is a very nervy type and things need to go right for him, but Richard gave him an absolute peach of a ride.''

Richard Phillips' Gingerbread House, winner of two point-to-points, made a successful debut under Rules in the hands of Richard Johnson.

Gingerbread House and Terre De Java had the race between them up the straight, but the former was getting on top when his rival made a mistake at the last flight, and he went on to score by six lengths.

Phillips said: ''Gingerbread House is the first horse Judy and Andy Stewart have had with me and it is nice to have made a good start for them.

''This horse is a real old-fashioned type of jumper and he is going to make a three-mile chaser.''

He went on: ''It has been a very annoying year for several reasons, but they are running a bit better now, and we have had three winners in six days.

"We have some very nice young horses and we are looking forward to next season.''

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