SMIDDY HILL'S (3.40) presence at Redcar spells big trouble for her ten opponents in the £10,000 Pertemps Employment Sprint Handicap.

The Robin Bastiman-trained filly is bred for speed and she showed plenty of dash when a close-up fifth behind Wunderbra on her course and distance reappearance.

Smiddy Hill is bound to strip much fitter for that outing, in which the three-year-old adopted her usual no nonsense catch-me-if-you-can tactics, wilting only inside the final furlong when tiring and collared near the finish.

For my money Smiddy Hill's canny trainer hadn't actually put all the best clubs in bag that day, but it's going to be a different story now with the benefit of the run under her belt.

There'll be a terrific amount of interest revolving around Sir Mark Prescott's first two-year-old runner of the season, Aspen Falls (2.10) in the opening EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Sir Mark, well known for not unleashing his juvenile stock until he's absolutely satisfied they are ready to do themselves' justice, is sure to have Aspen Falls tuned up and ready to rock-and-roll for the six-furlong opener.

The later seven-furlong Classified Stakes isn't the strongest affair in the world so it might be worth chancing track specialist, Efidium (3.10), even though he's been well in rear on both starts this term.

Neville Bycroft's gelding absolutely loves the place, and in a race that won't take any winning could perform a shade below par and still come out on top.

The closing Amateur Rider Handicap might easily produce a surprise result with a maximum field of 20 runners going to post.

Although Bollin Billy will most probably attract a modicum of market support from Tim Easterby's yard, Mac Cois Na Tine (5.10) might be a better value proposition.

Kevin Ryan's raider has been fading out of contention over longer distances, hinting that this return to a sprint trip might just be the ticket to ride.

Best bet at Carlisle is Royal Windmill (4.20), who ran out of his skin to snatch fourth spot in a higher standard Redcar claimer three weeks ago.

Admittedly it's dangerous to take too much of shine to form achieved in that type of race, but if Micky Hammond's horse reproduces a similar level of ability, he'll be unstoppable in the Sands Banded Stakes.

The Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown's evening meeting is a mouth-watering contest piled high with the UK's top speed merchants.

Baltic King will have a boatload of fans following his recent gutsy triumph at Windsor, but it is David Elsworth's decision to pitch Nota Bene (7.15) in against older horses which really captures the imagination.

Last time out at Newbury, Nota Bene smashed the six-furlong course record in the style of a potential champion. Awesome is the only word for this colt, and the sole thing that will put many punters off is the fact he now reverts to the minimum trip.

If it's a dark evening with cloud-cover at Hexham they'll need headlights to find their way round in the closing Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle at 9.10.

Dwindling light or not, the classy French import, Lutin Du Moulin, should have little difficulty completing a three-timer for one of the top trainers at the track, Lenny Lungo.