THE booking of Tony Dobbin for Carbury Cross (2.10) in the £100,000 De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock is a hint not to be missed.

Seven days ago at Newcastle Dobbin grabbed the headlines in a similarly high-profile long-distance chase by snatching a last-gasp victory in the Tote Northern National aboard This Is Serious.

Dobbin's all-round skills are much admired, but he is in his element when riding over trips in excess of three miles over stiff fences, and Haydock's notorious drop fences have caught many a horse and jockey napping over the years.

Close scrutiny reveals Dobbin's mount has been a shade disappointing this term although maybe we've all been expecting too much from him after the useful eight-year-old went through last season unbeaten in three tries at Musselburgh, Doncaster, and Ayr.

However, I wouldn't take too much notice of Carbury Cross's latest duck egg at Newbury, where he ran far better than his final ninth placing suggests.

Despite being backed down to 3-1 favourite he was never travelling like a winner that day and jockey John Kavanagh didn't persevere with Carbury Cross once their cause was lost in the home straight.

The meeting opens up with a star-studded novices' hurdle featuring a whole host of Cheltenham Festival material, including Keen Leader, Moss Harvey and Mr Woodentop (1.10).

It's the sort of race to sit back and enjoy, rather than have a financial involvement, with three of the country's top three-mile hurdlers taking each other on.

I've gone for Mr Woodentop purely because Len Lungo has such a terrific hand in the staying division with the likes of The Bajan Bandit and The Phair Crier also housed in his west of Scotland yard.

Alan Swinbank's Virgin Soldier (3.50) bids to capture The Down Royal Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh under a backbreaking weight of 12 stones.

One thing is for sure, Virgin Soldier wouldn't want any more rain since his best form has generally been achieved on top-of-the-ground.

In the preceding Daily Record Handicap Chase, Sam Quale (3.20) is fancied to take the money provided he manages to stay on his feet.

Brian Ellison's raider looked really promising when obliging at Market Rasen in December.

Sadly, after such a scintillating success, he's failed to complete at Cheltenham and Uttoxeter.

Nonetheless, he may well find Musselburgh's faster surface and less demanding obstacles more to his liking.

The £25,000 Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield brings together some extremely smart mile-and-half polytrack performers, none more so than Clive Brittain's Herodotus (2.45).

Herodotus, already proven at listed level on the turf, showed his effectiveness on the sand by sluicing up over 12 furlongs a fortnight ago.

It's not certain that the drop back in trip will suit, a factor the tactically aware Darryll Holland will no doubt take into account when deciding at which point he is going to inject some pace into the race.

There's a whole bundle of well-known speedsters contesting the five-furlong £10,000 Bet Direct Handicap at 4.20.

The way the races are being run at present I envisage Sharp Hat will be able to cut his rivals down with a late surge on the outer under the talented 3lbs apprentice, Joanna Badger.