David Barron's record on the Fibresand at Southwell since the start of 1999 stands up to the closest scrutiny.
During that period the Thirsk trainer has had over 60 winners at a strike rate of one in five and a level £1 stakes bet on all his runners would have yielded a profit of over £70.
Barron looks the man to follow at the Nottinghamshire venue this afternoon, where he can be on the mark with Penwell Hill in division one of the Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Handicap over a mile.
Following a very creditable second to Inch Perfect over a mile and three furlongs, Barron's progressive sort put his best effort to date when winning with more in hand than the official margin suggested over course and distance last week.
And that length-and-a-half win was franked in no uncertain terms when runner-up Yavari went on to demolish a fairly competitive field back at this course three days ago.
Barron can double up with Zero Tolerance, for whom Keith Dalgleish looks an interesting jockey booking, in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Maiden Stakes over a mile.
The three-year-old shaped well on his racecourse debut at Newcastle in October in a fair maiden and is bred to relish the step up to this trip for his all-weather debut.
Barron's Pawn In Life has good claims in division one of that mile handicap but very marginal preference is for Brandy Cove, who is trained by the in-form Bryan Smart.
Smart's gelding is 7lb higher than when beating Arpeggio over this course and distance on his most recent outing but the way he travelled through that race left the impression that he could be up to defying a higher mark in this lesser grade.
Gary Moore has his string in good form and he can also be a trainer in double form as he has prospects with Bhutan in division one of the Amateur riders handicap over a mile and a half and Gemi Bed in the second division of the same race.
The former doesn't always find much off the bridle but he's a strong-travelling sort that has taken well to this surface and comes here in good form, while Gemi Bed's finishing effort at this course last time caught the eye and he could go well at decent odds.
It will be very testing ground at the jumping fixtures and at Warwick this will suit Uncle Micklooks, set to run well in the Burton Green Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old is in good form and though he's not won for some time, he's a consistent sort who is taken to beat Jonjo O'Neill's Blow Wind Blow.
Dragon King is a consistent sort who goes on heavy ground and should give another good account in the Email warwickrhtm.net Handicap Chase.
West Witton trainer Ferdy Murphy yesterday ruled out a quick return to action for Saturday's impressive Haydock winner Truckers Tavern.
Murphy had been considering running the eight-year-old in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham at the weekend but the horse will now instead be kept for the AON Chase at Newbury on February 8.
''He goes to Newbury,'' Murphy confirmed. ''Davy Russell rode him out this morning, he worked well and we'd be happy with him but we decided that it would come a little bit quick for him and we'll wait for Newbury.''
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