DAVID NICHOLLS has unearthed yet another potentially useful sprinter in the shape of Rectangle (4.40), who heads for the £20,000 Premier Lodge Handicap at Sandown today.

Nicholls has made an uncustomary fast start to the new turf season; his horses far more forward than in previous years. But trainers and punters alike must make hay while the sun shines and at a time when his team are in such scintillating form, Dandy is taking every available opportunity to plunder races whether they be in the north or south.

And Rectangle's credentials for the five-furlong dash at the Esher venue could not be more solid having won a maiden in cosy fashion at Thirsk in 2002, prior to finishing a cracking runner-up in a much hotter event at Ascot 27 days ago.

In the earlier Sandown Park Classic Trial several quality middle-distance three-year-olds turn out for the £60,000 Group 3 mile-and-a-quarter contest.

The sheer strength of Aidan O'Brien's hand means none of the contenders are likely to feature in the Epsom Derby, however, there are still some near top-class individuals amongst the line-up, including the Mark Tompkins-trained Inch Again (2.55).

Using the clock as a guide, Inch Again has a bit to find with one or two of his rivals, but having witnessed his gritty success on his comeback outing at Ripon last month, I believe there is plenty of improvement to come from the strikingly handsome son of Inchinor.

Neither should Darryll Holland's presence in the saddle be ignored since there can be little doubt that "Dazzles", as he is known in the weighing room, is riding better than ever this season.

Holland could also be on the mark with Always Esteemed (4.05), who like Inch Again won at Ripon last time out.

Always Esteemed was making his debut that day and showed distinct signs of greenness, getting himself well behind in the early stages. Rather than panic, Holland allowed his mount to find his natural stride pattern, and when he did ask Always Esteemed to pick up the pace in the home straight, Geoff Wragg's colt quickened in impressive style to grab the initiative at the furlong pole.

Admittedly it is was hard work all the way to the line from thereon in. Nevertheless, the way in which he fended off the persistent challenge of Mark Johnston's Fantastic Love gave the strong impression courage is going to be one of his long suits. Perth's three-day festival ends on a high note with the three-mile £30,000 Press & Journal Handicap Chase attracting an excellent eight-runner field.

The man to follow at the track yesterday was Tony Dobbin, who left his fans north of the border drooling with a magnificent four-timer. Tony's services are in great demand so it seems highly significant that he been snapped up to partner Navarone (3.50) in the valuable three-mile feature.

Navarone acts on soft and fast ground so the threatened overnight rain will be of no consequence to him should conditions deteriorate. And another plus factor to take into account is the way the nine-year-old destroyed his rivals at Bangor with a pulsating pillar-to-post victory.

On the sand at Wolverhampton, the extremely well-handicapped Parker (3.05) has dropped to such an attractive mark that he really cannot go unbacked in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap. Bryn Palling's miler therefore gets the nod for the nap vote.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.