RAVI RIVER can regain the winning thread despite taking a small jump up in class in Lingfield’s Gopher Handicap.

Trained by Epsom-based Jim Boyle, the five-year-old gelding is a bit of an all-weather specialist, having already won races at Kempton and Wolverhampton.

And although he ran below his mark last time when second in a claimer at Kempton, there were excuses.

Ravi River is seen at his best when making all of the running, but was unable to do so at the Sunbury circuit.

That said, he still lost little in finishing second - a mile clear of his nearest pursuer - behind Ryedale Ovation, who has since held his own in slightly better company.

He has won before at this level, and with Pat Cosgrave likely to take the initiative from the outset, expect Ravi River to bounce back to form from a most favourable draw.

Raccoon can nail a quickfire double at Musselburgh to further galvanise the blossoming reputation of North Yorkshire trainer Ruth Carr.

The popular sprinter drops down to selling company four days after his spirited success in a decent handicap last Friday.

It could prove a masterstroke, as Raccoon consequently escapes a penalty for that three-quarters-of-a-length triumph over Hypnosis.

The nine-year-old gelding has already racked up four course-and-distances victories at the Scottish circuit, and looks booked for another big show in the Subscribe Online At racinguk.com Selling Stakes.

Given Carr’s hot streak, allied to her propensity for running up a winning sequence, it would take a brave soul to back against him.

Hada Men can banish a lowkey effort at Leicester with victory in the John Smith’s No Nonsense Handicap at Nottingham.

Luca Cumani’s stayer was foiled in his quest to chalk up a hat-trick when finishing a well-beaten third to It’s A Date.

Only a cursory inspection of that race, however, would convince punters to give this progressive four-year-old another chance.

Sent off the 11-8 favourite, it took an age for the penny to drop – after which the game was up over what was probably an inadequate trip.

By contrast, this 14-furlong hike looks tailor-made for an animal of his stamina-laden pedigree.

With the ground at Nottingham drying all the time – another crucial factor which counted against him at Leicester – a rejuvenated effort can be confidently anticipated.

Post It can deliver for the Ron Hodges team in the South West Racing Club Tours Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot.

■ Jeremy Glover’s confidence in Luscivious was vindicated after the sharp sprinter landed another nice prize at Southwell.

The five-year-old gelding has a fine record at the Nottinghamshire circuit – this was his third success at the course – and he again showed trademark early fizz to snare the southwellracecourse.

co.uk Handicap.

Glover’s well-backed 7-4 favourite burst out of stall one under Graham Gibbons and had just enough in the tank to defeat Figaro Flyer by a short head.

‘‘Jeremy said this morning he would win and was proved right,’’ said joint-owner Paul Dixon.

‘‘He ran very well at Goodwood and he loves this track.

He’s done it well and Graham gets a good tune out of him.’’