AFTER spending much of the winter in the doldrums, Sue Smith's stable is staging a pleasing springtime rally, which could continue at Carlisle via Billy Nomaite (4.20) in the Hart Fell Handicap.

Billy Nomaite has yet to find the winners' enclosure this term, but his third placing to The Butterwick Kid last time out over course and distance suggested he was about to strike.

If more evidence is required neither the fast ground nor the demanding nature of the track will pose any problems for the eight-year-old, who has shown that he loves to hear his hooves rattle.

In the Colin Parker Memorial Novices' Chase, Historg (2.50) has the class to make amends for a dismal performance at the Cheltenham Festival.

Historg never jumped a twig that day, effectively knocking the stuffing out of his not inconsiderable frame by clouting one too many fences on the way round.

The furious early pace probably caught out Historg at the Festival, a situation unlikely to recur in today's much less competitive affair.

Ferdy Murphy has always held Historg in the highest regard, an opinion that was fully vindicated when the useful gelding picked up a valuable contest at Haydock the time before last.

Bobandvi (2.30) has been knocking on the door of late, so it will come as no surprise if the four-year-old filly breaks her duck over timber in the Peter Douglas Selling Hurdle at Uttoxeter.

Bobanvi (2.30) has twice run well in higher standard races at Doncaster and will doubtless get every assistance from Tony Dobbin in the saddle.

Tony McCoy returns after a short break from injury and has several decent rides, including Sadler's Secret (3.30) in the Roger Bullivanr Handicap Hurdle.

Sadler's Secret did not reproduce his best from when third to City Poser at Warwick, however he's not the type of individual to let the side down twice in a row.

Finally to Southwell, where Kevin Darley has a rare ride for Nigel Tinkler on Charming Lotte (2.40) in the six-furlong Datawatch International Handicap.

Charming Lotte will have benefited from a pipe-opener at Warwick on the first of the month, where she was in the firing line until lack of peak fitness told inside the final furlong.

The five-year-old mare has a handy draw more-or-less against the favoured far rail, from where Darley ought to be able to keep Tinkler's representative away from the potential scrimmaging in behind.