REIGNING champion jockey Frankie Dettori has struck up a winning association with Improvise (2.55), strongly fancied to take the Ousden Conditions Stakes on the opening day of the Craven meeting at Newmarket.

Dettori was on the back of Clive Brittain's flying filly when she pulverised her ten rivals over six furlongs at Pontefract late last month. She certainly wasn't stopping at the end of that contest, so the decision to step Improvise up in trip at headquarters comes as no surprise.

According to the official ratings Brittain's speedy three-year-old has a bit to find with a few of today's opponents, but her superior fitness, plus expected improvement, should be more than enough to offset her apparent disadvantage at the weights.

Mark Johnston put in a very good word for Crosspeace (5.10) when interviewed for this year's Racing North, a hint well worth taking on board in the closing six-furlong Exning Handicap.

Crosspeace could well turn out to be better than a handicapper, according to the in-form Middleham handler, a point that will not be lost on devoted followers of the stable, who will be getting stuck into Johnston's classy representative once the betting opens for the £14,000 sprint.

Keith Reveley's decision to try Hernando's Boy (3.05) over two miles at Musselburgh warrants the utmost respect.

Twice a winner over the sticks during the early part of the winter, Reveley then rested the selection in readiness for a spring campaign on the level. In view of his long break from the fray, Hernando's Boy almost certainly needed the run when sixth on his return to the Flat at the Lincoln meeting.

The race at Doncaster was over a mile-and-a-half, but everything in the Lingdale raider's profile suggests that the longer distance in the Forthone Handicap will be much more in his favour, especially as he'll love the predicted fast ground at the Scottish track.

Exeter-bound Double Header (2.45) deserves to get his head back in front, having run two corkers on his most recent couple of outings at Uttoxeter and Newbury.

The tough-as-teak six-year-old has already shown a liking for the West Country venue, having previously won at the course over two-miles-and-one-furlong. It seems to me that the success over the shorter trip was a big bonus, since the available composite speed figures make it clear he's even better over this afternoon's stamina-sapping trip.

Karen George appears to have finally got Achilles Wings (4.25) back on track, which surely bodes well for the gelding's prospects in the two-mile-three-furlongs Forestry And Timber Handicap Hurdle.

Achilles Wings has endured a spell in the wilderness during the past 18 months, prompting Karen to drop her charge into selling grade in order to try and waken up his ideas.

The ploy certainly seems to have worked and there was plenty to like about the nine-year-old's latest effort when third at Newton Abbot. He appears to be on the comeback trail, and if he reproduced his form from a couple of years ago he is in with a major shout.

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