DAVID BARRON has long been a brilliant trainer of sprinters and this afternoon he sends out a couple of his flying machines, Thirsk-bound Paradise Eve (4.55), plus Impressive Flight (3.20), in line for big-race success at Nottingham.

Barron, who quietly yet efficiently plies his trade from the village of Maunby only a few miles from the first-mentioned course, generally prefers to let his horses do the talking.

And Paradise Eve certainly did not let him or the stable down when blitzing a decent field of speedsters at Musselburgh last time out.

The manner of the victory was spectacular, jockey Dean Mernagh having a great deal of difficulty pulling up Paradise Eve, such was her momentum after crossing the line at the Scottish track.

Judged by that effort Paradise Eve is still way ahead of the handicapper and fully entitled to justify likely favouritism in the Rectangle Group Handicap.

Many of the local bookmakers will still rue the day that Impressive Flight first set foot on the track at Thirsk last year, emptying their satchels by landing a colossal "touch" on her debut.

Impressive Flight went on to greater glory, picking up plenty more prize money, including a hard-fought victory at Newmarket in August.

Physically the filly was just a "shell" 12 months ago, and it didn't take the greatest paddock judge in the world to suss out that she might easily be a much stronger, and therefore more effective, individual come this season.

That theory is about to be put to the test at Nottingham, where Impressive Flight lines up for the £40,000 Listed Tote Exacta Fillies Stakes over six furlongs.

The competition is stiff with the Flying Childers Stakes heroine, Wunders Dream, plus Tim Easterby's Golden Nun in the field, but with the benefit of the winter to strengthen up, Barron's four-year-old is fancied to prevail.

In the following mile-and-six-furlong Tote Credit Club Handicap, Contact Dancer (3.55) has to be a leading contender.

"He gets a trip, wants easy ground, and I think he can win again off his current mark of 77," reported trainer John Dunlop.

Those sentiments are good enough for me, especially as Dunlop's prayers have been answered since the ground has changed from rock hard to good to soft as a result of yesterday's heavy rain.

There will be fun and games at Sedgefield's evening meeting, where general manager Jim Allen has organised the Mascot Three-Legged Derby.

Hartlepool United Football Club's mascot H'Angus The Monkey is one of the 20 declared runners lining up for the one-furlong event.

The second unconventional race of the evening is the Hobby Horse Oaks, an initiative inspired by Butterwick Hospice Care.

And to help things swing along, regular racecourse sponsor, the Saltwell Signs company, has generously made 50 hobby horses for racegoers to use.

Allen said: "We're turning our the meeting into a gala affair for a most worthy and good cause. We'll be opening the gates at 2.30pm and showing the FA Cup Final on the giant Tote screen. There'll be a funfair for children and a Taekwando display. The Butterwick Hospice is a superb charity for us to support."

As for finding some winners in the "real" races, try having a few bob on previous track and trip winner Lislaughtin Abbey (8.15) in the Cordell Group Handicap Chase.

Owen Brennan's game eleven-year-old loves the course and will get every assistance from Tony Dobbin in the saddle.

After being called all the names under the sun, the former villain Trooper (8.45) has turned over a new leaf, winning his last two races in determined fashion.

His trainer Andy Crook, still on a high having secured the Scottish Grand National with Ryalux, can now look forward to Trooper landing the hat-trick in the closing Saltwell Signs Supporting the Butterwick Hospice Handicap Hurdle.

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