It hasn't been the best of winters so far for Karl Burke, but his fortunes can change at Lingfield this afternoon.

The Middleham trainer can be on the mark with Golden Brief in division two of the Bet Direct On Channel 4 Page 613 Handicap over seven furlongs and with Young Alex in the Littlewoods Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Classified Stakes over a mile.

Golden Brief has developed into a real course specialist and he won his fifth race over course and distance in claiming company on his penultimate outing.

Although he couldn't figure under a penalty back at this course on Saturday, that was in a most competitive handicap and he makes plenty of appeal in this weaker race from a more realistic mark.

Young Alex has also been running with credit of late in the top seven-furlong handicaps at this course but he could appreciate the return to a mile and is taken to reverse recent form with likely favourite Lakota Brave.

He should be spot on now after those two recent outings and he's better than the bare form implies as he's not had the best of passages on either outing.

He's weighted to finish a lot closer to Nick Littmoden's consistent sort and it'll be a bit of a surprise if he can't go well at decent odds.

Littmoden, the leading trainer on the sand this winter, can also be in double form courtesy of Mush in division one of that seven -furlong handicap and with True Companion in the Happy New Year From Bet Direct Maiden over a mile and a quarter.

Mush hasn't shown much to date on sand, but he has some fair form to his name on turf this year and will be a danger to all from this much lower sand rating if things do drop into place for him.

True Companion boasts the best course and distance form and can get off the mark at the fifth attempt in a very ordinary looking maiden. Jade's Promise may be the chief threat.

Andrew Reid can also be in double form with Bank On Him in division one of the Littlewoods Bet Direct AW Jockeys Championship Seller over a mile and a quarter and with Further Outlook in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Claimer over six furlongs.

The former is a regular winner over this course and distance and that winning tendency sets him apart from the majority of his rivals in what looks a very modest contest.

Further Outlook would carry the majority of his rivals in the claimer at these weights but, even though his best days may be behind him, could still prove too good for Burke's Legal Set.

David Evans' Waterline Dancer has run her best races to date on Polytrack and can supplement her recent course and distance success by taking the betdirect.co.uk Nursery over six furlongs.

The juvenile showed the right attitude to win last time and, although this is a stronger grade, she is still capable of giving a good account from this mark.