Jamie Spencer, who has three booked mounts at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai today, is riding at the top of his form and to prove the point he partnered a near 9-1 double at Lingfield yesterday.

Spencer was seen at his cheekiest and most stylish when Mission To Mars took the Press Interactive To Bet Direct Handicap.

The well-supported 9-4 favourite was returning to the racecourse after a 71-day break from the action, caused by a leg injury sustained in his stable.

But trainer Peter Hedger produced the gelding ready to fire on his comeback and he coasted home by two and a half lengths from Perfidious.

Spencer's mount travelled supremely well throughout and cruised clear from his rivals in the final 100 yards, the style of victory Spencer enjoys the most.

''He was fully extended there and I don't want to see anything different in the papers!'' said Hedger, tongue firmly in cheek.

''He caught his hind joint on his box and had to have some time off but that wasn't such a bad thing because he likes to be a bit fresh - he is better 95 per cent fit than 100 per cent fit.

''It is a relief to have another winner. I was getting so far up the cold trainers' table that I was thinking of wearing my long johns.''

Hedger revealed that a possible switch to the hurdling game for Mission To Mars was on the back-burner.

''He's a bit erratic!'' Hedger smiled. ''He doesn't stop and look. He just gets to the other side.

''But when he can keep winning races like this there's no point in going over hurdles and risking decking him."

Spencer's double came up in the Bet Direct Through Sky Active Selling Stakes when another favourite Alizar beat Reedsman by an easy two lengths.

Also on the mark with a double was Epsom trainer Terry Mills, although the first of his scorers - Type One - was another horse who will be going to a different stable.

The 4-6 favourite outclassed his rivals to get favourite backers off to a winning start.

The double came with Somewhere My Love in the betdirect.co.uk Maiden Stakes.