CATTERICK’S feature event, the Richmond Conditions Stakes, has cut up badly, and the small field leaves Too Much Trouble an apparently simple opportunity to maintain his unbeaten record.

One at perhaps a more rewarding price for punters at the North Yorkshire circuit could be Nassau Beach in the Terry Bird And Joe Osborne Memorial Handicap.

This will be the first time the Tim Easterby-trained gelding has dipped his toe into handicap waters, having just completed his third run in maidens.

That came at the same venue at the start of the month, where, on his first start for many months, he was slowly away before staying on in the closing stages to take fifth.

The extra furlong will help and Nassau Beach should be much more mature on this occasion.

Perth’s big April festival kicks off too, and there are one or two big equine names heading north for the party.

Smart sort The Market Man fits such a bill and should find this track a useful ally in returning to winning form in the SBJ Global Risks Novices’ Chase.

Milton Des Bieffes must also have a fine chance in the Dine In The Queen Mother Restaurant Handicap Chase at Southwell.

Lake Poet has not been back to Epsom since spending last year in Dubai, but returned to Brittain for this season and ran quite nicely on what looked like a pipe-opener at Pontefract last time.

He competes off the same handicap mark as his last Epson win and everything looks right for a strong effort, especially with the stable going well. Everything points to his canny trainer Brian Ellison expecting a big showing here.

Saint Arch can make up for finishing only sixth when well backed for this month’s Easter Stakes with success in the Weatherbys Bank Blue Riband Trial.

While the race is not usually a major pointer to the Classics, it has drawn a particularly interesting field of youngsters this time around, with Mark Johnston’s Saint Arch likely to be a touch underrated.