PUNTERS shouldn't go far wrong by backing Ryans Mistake (4.55) at Catterick this afternoon.

Being a son of the Derby winner Dr Devious out of a Halo mare, Alan Swinbank's three-year-old just about gets the nod on breeding alone.

Beautiful bloodlines are all well and good, but you also need an engine and his stamina-packed pedigree was endorsed last time out at Hamilton where he finished a creditable runner-up to Party Ploy.

Ryans Mistake battled all the way to the line over 12 furlongs that day and, spotting the chance to squeeze every ounce of improvement from his gelding, Swinbank has swiftly stepped the selection up to a mile and a three quarters for the goracing.co.uk Handicap.

James Bethell, who knocked in a tasty 20-1 winner at York on Sunday via King Harston, cannot expect those sort of fancy odds about his challenger, True Magic (2.20), in the opening Beckside Maiden Auction Stakes.

Bethell's filly finished third on her debut at Ripon to Wanchai Lad and Philharmonic. It appeared at time to be a decent run and given the last-named pair have both won since that opinion has been totally vindicated.

Lambourn handler Brian Meehan doesn't often venture to Catterick, however he has an excellent opportunity to take the Nursery with hat-trick seeking Perfect Distance (2.55).

Although Perfect Distance has taken time to get going, successive victories at Wolverhampton and latterly Musselburgh put Meehan's long-distance raider bang in line for the six-furlong dash.

If ever a girl deserves to get more rides, it is the hugely talented apprentice Hayley Turner, who heads to Leicester to partner the consistent two-year-old Pardon Moi (2.35) in the Rancliffe Selling Nursery.

Hayley has come on in leaps-and-bounds over the past few months and yet her services remain very much under utilised. At least Christine Dunnett has stayed loyal to Turner, fancied to make the most of Pardon Moi's superior experience against a bunch of mainly motley rivals.

Telori (3.05) bids to win the following Prestwick Handicap for the second year in a row.

Ian Wood's mare recently hinted at a return to form and seeing as she has dropped back to a winning mark must hold plenty of aces in the 20-runner cavalry charge.

Blink and you'll miss the five-furlong Racecourse Video Conditions Stakes, a race in which all six contenders possess genuine speed.

Of the sextet Bond Becks is sure to strike soon, however at the weights I just give The Trader (4.05) the edge. Kieren Fallon's mount not only takes an enormous drop in class having last run respectably behind Oasis Dream in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York, he also has a previous course and distance success to his name.

Not many flat horses are still trucking at the age of ten, none the less that is exactly the scenario concerning Absolute Utopia (4.15), a definite for the short-list in the mile-and-a-quarter Renault Master Van Selling Handicap at Lingfield.

John Spearing's veteran has been in cracking form of late, making the frame on all of his latest three starts. He might even have won at Warwick 15 days ago were it not for his foolish young jockey taking things a tad too easy once the winning post was in view.

There'll be no such occurrence today with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, an absolute master when it comes to producing old-timers such as Absolute Utopia on the Polytrack.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.