DAVID ARBUTHNOT is not one of the busier trainers at this time of year but he holds strong claims at Lingfield in the Marsh Green Handicap with Fazza.

A winner on New Year’s Eve, this three-year-old has a fairly progressive profile for this grade of race.

It may have taken a while for the penny to drop but since David Probert has been employed in the saddle he appears to have improved.

He has a 5lb rise to overcome for his last win but there may be more to come.

Despite the weather holding up many yards since the turn of the year, Paul Howling has been as busy as ever.

Howling rents part of Henry Cecil’s historic Warren Place yard in Newmarket and it is obviously having a good effect as his string appear to be in rude health.

He saddles Tamino in the Ashurst Wood Handicap and the seven-yearold looks primed to run another big race.

A winner last time out here over this seven furlongs, he has also finished second on his previous start, suggesting he is on very good terms with himself.

He has been raised 4lb by the handicapper for a two-length win over Party In The Park when Jimmy Quinn was in the saddle.

That rise has been offset by the booking of Julie-Anne Cumine who will be a new name to most racegoers and has yet to register a winner but she has ridden for the yard before and must have impressed otherwise she would not be riding for Howling again.

Neil Callan is an eyecatching booking for Roger Ingram’s Maggie Kate in the Forest Row Handicap.

A winner of her last two starts on turf at the backend of the summer campaign, she does have a 130-day absence to overcome. She did win off a mark of 60 at Great Leighs a while ago though and despite those two wins is still only off 53.

There was a lot to like about the way Ian Williams’ Russian Music won at Southwell last week and he returns there for the Betdaq On 0870 178 1221 Handicap.

He beat the hat-trick seeking Dark by a comfortable margin and there is no doubt the 6lb penalty he now races with would not have stopped him scoring. Stephen Donohoe has never been out of the first two in three rides on the five-year-old and can defy top weight.

Phillip Makin has begun 2010 the way he ended the previous year – by riding plenty of winners.

He rides David Barron’s Flow Chart in the Play Golf At Southwell Golf Club Handicap and despite rising to a mark of 70 through his consistency, he still looks to be on the upgrade.

■ Probert doubled his tally for 2010 with a 194-1 brace at Kempton aboard Thoughtsofstardom and Slick Mover yesterday. Thoughtsofstardom made all in the fast-and-furious williamhill.com/best Odds Guaranteed Handicap and Slick Mover got off the mark in division one of the mileand- a-half William Hill 0800 44 40 40 Bet Now! Handicap.