Course specialists are invariably horses to have on your side when it comes to betting at tracks like Wolverhampton.

And Ashtree Belle, who has notched three wins at Dunstall Park (two over this trip) looks to have decent claims in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over seven furlongs at the Midlands track this afternoon.

Derek Haydn-Jones' filly followed her latest course and distance win with a very creditable fourth placing from this mark to the in-form Mon Secret at Southwell on her latest outing.

That form was franked earlier this week when Warden Warren, who finished a close second on that occasion, went on to win a handicap at this course.

Prima Stella, who had no luck in running at Lingfield last time, can return to winning ways in the Bet Direct No Q Fillies Handicap over six furlongs.

Already a triple course winner (and two over this trip), the five-year-old had looked to be running into a bit of form over five furlongs at this course on her penultimate start when second to Sharp Hat.

The return to this trip is to her liking and she's taken to beat Sandgate Cygnet, a winner at this course over the minimum trip earlier in the week, but who isn't guaranteed to prove as good over this trip.

Sharp Hat is unlikely to be much of a price but appeals as the likeliest winner in The Bet Direct No Q Demo 08000 837888 Claiming Stakes over five furlongs.

David Chapman's gelding has a fine record in claiming company and, although a bit below his best at this course on Boxing Day, makes plenty of appeal against these rivals at the weights.

The opening nine furlong handicap (division 1) is a wide open affair but it could be worth siding with Goodbye Mr Bond, who shaped as though a return to this trip would suit at Southwell last time.

Eric Alston's four-year-old is open to more improvement than the majority in this field and, in a race where there are question marks about most of the runners, he looks set to give a good account.

Division two is also a trappy event but there should be plenty of pace on and this could tee things up nicely for Stef Liddiard's Givemethemoonlight, who has been running well of late.

Ayr has to pass an early morning inspection but, if it is given the all-clear, it is an interesting meeting and one in which The Rile (Whats On Chase Showcase Handicap) will be interesting now returned to fences after a solid hurdles effort last week.

Soft ground and this two-and-a- half mile trip look ideal and, although worse off at the weights with Lord Jack on course and distance form from about a year ago, the latter does have to show what sort of form he is in.

Len Lungo, who trains The Rile also looks to have good prospects of completing a treble with Full Irish in the Highland Novices Chase and with Huka Lodge in the Ayrshire Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

Strong Resolve will be hard to beat in the Salmon Novices Handicap chase over three miles and one furlong on the evidence of a much improved effort when winning over course and distance last Friday.

Given the way he travelled and jumped that day when beating the progressive All Sonsilver he's capable of defying a 7lb penalty and it'll be a surprise if he doesn't go close.

Bacyan will appreciate the return to two miles and six furlongs and is taken to go well at reasonable odds in the Ayr New Year National Hunt Novices Hurdle.

Although there is room for improvement in the jumping department he has still shown enough over hurdles to suggest he can give a good account in what looks an ordinary event.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.