Andrew Balding has already made a favourable impression since taking over the trainers licence from his father Ian at the end of last year.

As well as a couple of National Hunt winners, the Kingsclere handler has been on the mark 15 times already this year.

And Balding can be on the mark with Dubaian Gift, who caught the eye on his seasonal reappearance in the Pentax Digital Camera Handicap over five furlongs at Epsom this afternoon.

The gelding won four of his seven races and turned in his best effort on his final outing of last year when successful over this trip on fast ground at Haydock in September.

On that occasion he showed his customary dash to make all of the running - tactics that are particularly well suited to this lightning fast course.

Throw in the fact that he shaped much better than the result suggests from a bad draw at Thirsk on his reappearance and that he has the plum draw this time and he really does look something to bet on.

Balding also fields an interesting runner in Dumaran, who is taken to go well in the Pentax City And Suburban Showcase Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

His low draw and his ability to race up with the pace will be big assets in a race of this nature and he shaped well over a mile in the Lincoln at Doncaster last month when sixth to the progressive Pablo.

The return to this trip is going to suit and he's taken to beat Richard Fahey's Danelor, who shaped well on his first run for his new yard in a competitive event at Newbury last time.

Jimmy Fortune looks an interesting booking for Tanaji and the partnership are taken to go well in the Pentax Great Metropolitan Handicap over a mile-and-a-half.

Although he's left Ben Hanbury since his last run, he's a lightly-raced sort who is open to further improvement and he's also well drawn for one that can make the running.

At Catterick, Life Is Beautiful, who shaped well on her reappearance, is fancied to give a good account in the Moonax Handicap over a mile and a half.

Bill Tinning's four-year-old ran well until lack of a previous outing told in the closing stages at Ripon last time and, although she has made the running in the past, she will also be happy enough to get a good lead from Lost Spirit.

Jamie Spencer and David Loder have teamed up successfully on several occasions in recent times and they can click with Choral Chimes in the Richmond Conditions Stakes over a mile-and-a-half.

Although going up in grade, there was plenty to like about her demolition job of an ordinary field at Folkestone earlier this month and she's preferred to Mark Johnston's Shanty Star, who may be ideally suited by a more galloping course.

The best bet at Perth could be Pillaging Pict, who goes best fresh and has conditions to suit in the ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half miles.

After a three-month break early last month he turned in an improved effort to win at Kelso and, although 8lb higher in the weights, has the scope for further improvement.

l Mick Channon and jockey Steve Drowne stole the show with a sparkling treble from Pivotal Guest, Black Falcon and Analyze at Newcastle yesterday, writes RAY GILPIN.

The duo set the ball rolling when Channon got off the 13 mark for the season when Pivotal Guest just got the better of the gambled-on Imperial Echo in the Racecourse Video Services Maiden Stakes.

Imperial Echo was backed from 7-1 to 11-4 favourite and gave his supporters a good run for their money, but after a sustained battle he was a head adrift of Pivotal Guest where it mattered.

The winner carries the colours of John Guest, whose racing manager Tim Corby said: ''The penny did not drop with him until the last half-furlong and I am sure there is a lot of improvement in him.''

Channon and Drowne doubled up when Black Falcon won the Thank You To The Racecourse Doctors Maiden Stakes in impressive fashion, and the jockey said: ''He has come on leaps and bounds since his first run - he quickened up well when I pressed the button, and I think there is still a bit of improvement in him.''

The trainer-jockey combination completed the treble when Analyze produced a telling late burst to land the concluding Thank You To The Racecourse Vets Handicap.

David Nicholls is making hay while the sun shines, and he completed a one-two with Pax and Blackheath in the 'Order Northumberland Plate Badges Now' Handicap.

Pax, ridden by Nicholls' wife Alex Greaves, surged into the lead inside the final furlong and kept on well to pass the post with a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths to spare over his stable companion. With the Thirsk trainer at home baby-sitting, Greaves said: ''That is as good as Pax is, but he did it well and I think we will have to run him under penalty at Leicester on Saturday.''

She added: ''Our horses are healthy and running well and as most of them like fast ground, we have got going a bit earlier than usual - and we are not as worried as some that there has been no rain!''

Buthaina, the 11-8 favourite, and Swift Alchemist flashed across the line together, separated by the width of the course, in the Sponsor At Newcastle Median Auction Maiden Stakes, and judge Tom MacDowel could not split them.

He called a dead-heat, and Swift Alchemist's trainer Karl Burke admitted: ''I am pleasantly surprised, I thought we were beaten. We have a dozen horses at out satellite yard at Whitebarn Farm, near Marlborough, and George Baker rides those for us.

''He is a very good rider. He is very intelligent and a good man to have on your side.''

Warthill trainer Mel Brittain and jockey Tyrone Williams got off the mark for the season when Consensus, carrying the colours of the 12-strong Northgate Lodgers syndicate, defied top weight in the Saltwell Signs Handicap.

Jamie Mackay was suspended for three days for irresponsible riding of a minor nature on seventh-placed Rosie's Result.