North Yorkshire trainer James Bethell aims to strike while the iron is hot with nap selection Starbotton at Wolverhampton this evening.

Middleham-based Bethell scored with the four-year-old at Kempton last week and is prepared to saddle the filly again under a penalty in the Ladbrokes Handicap.

Bethell has booked smart northern apprentice Shirley Teasdale to erase all but one pound of Starbotton’s extra burden, which increases her chances of supplementing her latest success when she made all the running under Jamie Spencer.

A quick double could be on the cards in a race which sees the welcome return to action of North Yorkshire jockey Paul Mulrennan aboard Vale Of Clara, who is not without a chance.

Mulrennan, who lives near Boroughbridge, has been sidelined since last September after suffering serious injuries in a crashing fall at Hamilton. It would be great to see him return with a winner, but he may have to play a supporting role to Starbotton on this occasion.

Iffranesia gets the vote in the opening Best Odds At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap.

Robert Cowell’s sprinter was beaten a length into second place by Sir Geoffrey at Southwell last week in his first outing of the year. He is much better off at the weights this time and, with his recent run under his belt, Iffranesia can turn the tables.

Singzak is another coming back after a short break with strong claims of returning on a winning note.

Trained at Sheriff Hutton by Mick Easterby, the gelding twice finished second on this course in December, beaten only half-a-length on each occasion. He is overdue a winning turn. Graham Gibbons rides.

Sir Mark Prescott is a past master at eking out constant improvement from lightly-raced horses and his Sagesse makes appeal in the Coral App Download From The App Store Handicap.

The filly, having only her second start and her first of the year, made all to win in maiden company at Kempton last month. She is now into handicap company for the first time and her opening mark looks far from prohibitive. It would be no surprise to see her follow up under Luke Morris.

Over the sticks at Kempton, Easy Beesy returns to action after a seven-week break in the Betdaq No Premium Charge Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Charles Egerton, the six-year-old has won two of her three starts this season, at Fontwell and Towcester. His mark has gone up from an initial 83 to 102, but he appeals as a horse with more improvement to come and it would be dangerous to overlook his chances.

The £20,000 Betdaq Graduation Chase takes pride of place on the Kempton card and Une Artiste promises to be hard to beat.

Nicky Henderson’s smart mare failed by only a nose to win at Grade 2 level at Thurles in Ireland three weeks ago, having previously scored at Huntingdon. She will be a tough nut to crack with only 10st 3lb to carry. David Bass has the mount.

Colin Tizzard has a high opinion of Third Act, who is fancied to come good in the Betdaq Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.

Having spoiled his chances by stumbling badly on his debut, when he was third, Third Act finished a good second at Fontwell next time. He has not been seen out for four months, but the Tizzard horses seldom fail through lack of fitness.

Baltimore Rock (1.30), a good winner at Wincanton last month, and Strollawaynow (2.00), successful at Exeter on his latest outing, are two horses with excellent prospects of gaining back-to-back victories.


Racing selections

Kempton today
1.30 Baltimore Rock, 2.00 Strollawaynow, 2.30 Notarfbad, 3.05 Easy Beesy, 3.35 Une Artiste, 4.10 Triangular, 4.40 Third Act.

Wolverhampton today 
5.00 Iffranesia, 5.30 Reginald Claude, 6.00 Blacke Forest, 6.30 Singzak, 7.00 Sagesse, 7.30 God’s Speed, 8.00 Starbotton (NAP).

The meetings at Bangor and Newcastle were abandoned.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Lingfield, Newbury, Uttoxeter, Warwick and Wolverhampton.