MICHAEL Dods has his string in fine form, with Tatterstall and Northern Express landing big handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and Ascot respectively in recent weeks.

And, as the County Durham trainer closes in on his 50th winner of the season, he looks set fair to plunder the prizes at Redcar’s Caribbean Carnival Family Day on Saturday.

The feature is the Class 3 Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap and Dods seeks to repeat last year’s win in the race with Tinto.

The eight-year-old gelding won the six-furlong sprint in 2023 off a mark of 85 and it was a comfortable enough victory to suggest he’s capable of going in again off 3lbs higher.

He won off that mark at Thirsk three runs ago and, although he’s disappointed in two outings since, he could well bounce back in the hands of Connor Beasley.

Dods will also fancy his chances in the preceding Maria & Jason Tie The Knot Handicap with Hale End, a three-time winner this year.

The gelding has landed victories at Newcastle, Thirsk and Ayr this term and was strong through the line on the last of those wins. He’s risen three pounds in the weights but looks to be progressive and can make it four for the season, with Beasley again in the saddle.

Dods also has strong possibilities with Inspiring Speeches in the Celebrate The Life of Ann Allport Handicap. The Churchill gelding has taken a while to come to hand but put up his best performance to be beaten a head at Carlisle last time. This could be his opportunity off the same mark of 56, again with the strong assistance of Beasley.

On a day celebrating Redcar’s seafaring heritage, Tim Easterby’s Oceanic Wonder – a close second at Leicester last time – would be a topical winner and could prove the biggest danger to Inspiring Speeches.

The six-race card gets underway at 2.02pm with the Best Flat Races Live On Racing TV Restricted Maiden Stakes, with Charlie Hills catching the eye by sending Get Jiggy With It on the long journey from Lambourn.

However, the filly has had plenty of chances this season, failing to get her head in front in six starts, so preference is for Gundogan, trained at Middleham by Ed Bethell and ridden by Callum Rodriguez.

The combination has had winners at the last two Redcar meetings – Coppull Hall Lane on July 21 and See That Storm ten days later – and Gundogan looks ready to strike after his close second at Carlisle last time.

The Market Cross Jewellers Classified Stakes could be fought out by the Easterby family, with The Grey Lass and Northern Prince prominent in the betting.

The former, trained by Mick and David Easterby, and ridden by Billy Garritty, won on the all-weather at Southwell last time and seeks to defy a five-pound penalty. Northern Prince, trained by Tim Easterby, and ridden by David Allan, has yet to win but shaped with promise when fourth of 12 at Newcastle last time.

That leaves the Watch Race Replays On racingtv.com Handicap and it’s hard to ignore Sir Mark Prescott’s Newmarket raider Apostle. The Ulysses filly was keeping on over a mile at Windsor last time and now takes a significant step up to a mile and six furlongs, with Callum Rodriguez in the saddle.