VODKA can justify the 834-mile round trip from Maidstone to Musselburgh by winning the Nish & Raymondo Classified Stakes at the Scottish track this afternoon.

Trainer John Best claimed Vodka (4.20) out of Patrick Haslam's stable last month, a shrewd move by all accounts because the three-year-old has already picked up some handy place money by finishing runner-up at Southwell a fortnight ago.

And with only three opponents to beat today, two of whom appear to be outclassed, the Kent raider probably only has Tim Easterby's Princess Claudia to overcome.

But with the latter's fitness open to question after a 189-day absence, Vodka is poised to take full advantage on the evidence of his recent good form on the all-weather circuit.

Proceedings at the meeting get under way with the Daffodil Selling Handicap over a mile-and-one-furlong.

As the name implies there are definitely no world-beaters in the line-up, although one with more scope to improve than most is Time To Wyn (2.20).

Jimmy FitzGerald's yard has enjoyed a mini-revival of late and Time To Wyn showed he acted well over course and distance by finishing second to Ace Of Trumps in October.

Despite both Villa Del Sol and Time To Burn showing promise at Doncaster last week, neither may be good enough to account for the newcomer Algunas Veces (2.50), given a favourable mention by trainer David Barron in our Racing North supplement.

Batoutoftheblue's bid to win the two-mile Morton Fraser Handicap for the second year in succession received a substantial boost when he absolutely lagged up at Southwell over a similar trip eight days ago.

Unfortunately he's not the most consistent of customers and if not in the mood to get down and graft once heads turn for home, Papi Special (3.20) may be the one to benefit.

John McAuley's mount has slipped back to an inviting mark of 48 having been as high as 72 in his younger days. Papi Special's state of fitness must be taken on trust, nevertheless a reproduction of his effort at Hamilton in July 2000, when he touched off Once More For Luck, would be more than adequate.

Not for the first time David Nicholls throws a spanner in the works by fielding four runners in the Capital Solutions Handicap.

How punters are expected to sort out which one is best fancied heaven only knows.

Perhaps it's advisable to ignore the quartet and stick to Off Hire (3.50), who has been terrific on the sand, winning twice at Wolverhampton as well as going very close when third in a bunch finish at Southwell recently.

Any further rain would put paid to the jumping fixture at Exeter, where the Stewards are planning a 7.30am inspection.

If it does stay dry, Fred's In The Know (2.40) must be in with a shout of justifying Norman Waggot's decision to send the gelding all the way from his base at Spennymoor to the west country.

The six-year-old has been the model of consistency, making the frame on no less than six occasions, including a spectacular eleven-length success at Leicester in December.

Stamina in abundance will be required to prevail in the near three-mile South West Racing Club Handicap Chase, a trait Lancastrian Jet (3.10) is by no means short of.

Henry Daly's normally game and genuine stayer did not give his true running at Carlisle and is far better judged on his previous third placing under top-weight at Towcester.