TRAINER Ann Duffield returns to Lingfield this afternoon in the hope of completing a three-timer with Pauvic (5.05) in the Be Lucky Handicap.

Lingfield's stark surroundings are a million miles from the picture postcard Yorkshire Dales village of Constable Burton, adjacent to which Pauvic is housed at Ann's well-appointed stable.

But such dramatic changes of scenery don't seem to bother Pauvic, who made mincemeat of his six rivals with an all-the-way win over course and distance a couple of weeks ago.

The pacey three-year-old possesses speed to burn, an invaluable asset at a venue where often the best thing to do in sprints is blast off from the front, rather than attempt to play the more dangerous waiting game.

Pauvic's near neighbour, Rebellion (2.15), is another raider from our region with every prospect of bringing the booty back up the M1.

Although Mark Johnston's Middleham colt failed to justify 5-4 favouritism at the course when mugged in the final strides on Wednesday, he'll have learnt plenty from the experience and shouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Teenage apprentice sensation, James Doyle, has been attracting rave reviews throughout the winter by virtue of having a wise head on young shoulders.

James is never going to be short of rides while he's able to claim a 7lb allowance, hence his booking for Blue Hedges in the classicpools.com Handicap.

Doyle was in the saddle when the selection sprung a 25-1 surprise in a mile-and-a-quarter January maiden. He was then replaced by Jimmy Quinn, who made a right mess of the job when Blue Hedges was unluckily beaten into third spot last time out.

Given the circumstances of that unfortunate defeat when Quinn had his mount too far in rear, and then locked behind an impenetrable wall of horses at the two-furlong pole, it's a relief to see Doyle has been re-instated.

Wolverhampton's Banded meeting really is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff, but Saameq (5.15) could prove a bright spot on an otherwise dull day.

Saameq is having his first outing for Bolam, near Darlington, handler David Thompson, after previously being in the care of both Alistair Whillans and Ian Semple.

The much-travelled gelding generally goes well fresh, so his near three-month break from action need not worry punters thinking of investing their hard-earned cash in the closing 12 furlong contest.