It's that time of year again. To try and come up with a list of locally-trained horses, who will earn their corn, and pay to follow on the Flat this season.

The list of ten is as follows:

BO MCGINTY (Richard Fahey)

The pride and joy of Ryedale owners Bo Turnbull and Paddy McGinty - hence his name - this three-year-old is fancied to make a bit of a name for himself this season.

His initial campaign last year was restricted to just three outings, but that included a trip to Royal Ascot, where he finished unplaced, a cracking placed effort in a hot race at Beverley and a win at Carlisle. And all that was achieved by a big horse, who had largely outgrown his strength and who continually looked more of a three-year-old prospect.

Richard Fahey reports Bo Mcginty has done well over the winter. The gelding, who possesses plenty of speed, looks sure to add to his solitary juvenile win and give his enthusiastic owners plenty of fun this term.

CARIBBEAN CORAL (John Quinn)

From a stable which does particularly well with sprinters, Caribbean Coral is a useful-looking addition to John Quinn's Settrington yard. Formerly trained at Newmarket by Chris Wall, the five-year-old was twice a winner last season, and also finished second to Quinn's proven standard-bearer Smart Predator in a competitive handicap on his local course.

Quite highly-rated and the sort of horse who will be going for valuable sprint handicaps, Caribbean Coral is not going to find any easy options. That said, he ran well on his reappearance at Doncaster last month and he makes a strong appeal as the likely winner of a plum prize this term.

CELTIC THUNDER (Tim Etherington)

A solid juvenile campaign last year formed a good foundation for Celtic Thunder to build his future career. The cheaply-bought son of Mind Games proved a bargain buy at 6,500 guineas, winning at maiden at Beverley in July for Tim Etherington, and subsquently running well in nursery company.

An out-and-out sprinter, who will probably never stay beyond six furlongs, he has the scope to progress further. It is not difficult to envisage him winning a decent three-year-old handicap this season.

GREY COSSACK (Paul Midgeley)

A horse who forever will be remembered by Paul Midgley, having provided the former jump-jockey with his first training success at Redcar earlier this week, Grey Cossack could well make an even deeper impression on his young handler in the weeks and months ahead.

A decent handicapper on his day, as he proved at Redcar, where he overcame trouble in running to clinch a thrilling victory in a big field, the seven-year-old is surely capable of winning again. Effective over a stiff five and over six furlongs, Grey Cossack is likely to prove Midgley's best friend for the forseeable future.

MIS CHICAF (John Wainwright)

Beyond The Clouds, Tommy Smith, Catch The Cat and Vita Spericolata give John Wainwright a further strong hand in sprint handicaps this season. But the Kennythorpe trainer could have another useful string to his bow in the sprinting department in Mis Chicaf, a three-year-old daughter of Prince Sabo.

A winner at Beverley last September, Mis Chicaf had suffered more than her share of bad luck before and after that triumph and, as a result, remains a filly with untapped talent.

Her trainer certainly believes she is capable of advancing her form and is hopeful that she may even prove capable of contesting a valuable prize like the William Hill Trophy at York this summer. Whatever her targets might be, she is one to keep on the right side.

QUALITAIR WINGS (James Hetherton)

It took time and patience for Qualitair Wings to strike winning form last season, at Hamilton in September, but he'd run two or three useful races in defeat before then. Hopefully, he can get into the winning groove earlier this term.

A pretty able handicapper at his best - and, at around a mile, Qualitair Wings tends to act on any ground, and represents the Qualitair company of his Norton-born owner-breeder Peter Bottomley. There should be more to come from him.

SOMNUS (Tim Easterby)

Far and away the best horse in this line-up, Somnus is already a Group 1 winner - the only one, in fact, currently trained in Ryedale - having captured last season's Haydock Park Sprint Cup. That event will again be on his agenda this year as he bids to hammer home his prowess as a top-flight speedster.

Bred in Ryedale by Lady Caroline Legard at Scampston, Somnus was a hugely-successful juvenile in 2002, winning very valuable events at Doncaster and Redcar. Last season, he followed up with three wins, including that extra-special Haydock victory, which was achieved on soft ground. An easy surface suits him best, but is not a neccessity for this talented four-year-old, who is also very effective on good going.

Reported by Tim Easterby to have thrived over the winter, Somnus is likely to start his campaign on Knavesmire in next month's Duke of York Stakes. After that, a trip to Royal Ascot could be on the cards, for the Golden Jubilee Stakes. An admirable performer, who will also have options of racing abroad this season, Somnus is fancied to confirm himself a top performer in the months ahead.

TOP DIRHAM (Mick Easterby)

Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Top Dirham has already proved a useful addition to Mick Easterby's Sheriff Hutton yard. A well-supported winner at Thirsk last summer, he again obliged in the Carlisle Bell, bursting through a wall of horses inside the final furlong to clinch a thrilling victory under regular rider Dale Gibson.

The chances are that there is still more to come from Top Dirham, who made a highly encouraging seasonal reappearance at Newcastle recently to finish second.

A strongly-run race over a mile is his ideal requirement, and he should again give Ryedale owner Steve Hull plenty to smile about this summer.

TRE COLLINE (Nigel Tinkler)

A newcomer to Nigel Tinkler's Langton yard, having previously been trained in Newmarket by Chris Wall, Tre Colline is the sort of horse who could prove a decent money-spinner in the north in run-of-the-mill handicaps.

A dual-winner, the five-year-old has had a couple of outings for Tinkler this season, the latest at Redcar on Monday, and has yet to cut any ice. But it's still early days, and given a little respite from the handicapper, he should soon be in a competitive position to pay his way.

ZIBELINE (Brian Ellison)

There is plenty to be said for versatile horses, and Zibeline clearly fits into that category, having recently proved his worth as a hurdler with a high-profile win at Aintree's Grand National meeting. He could reappear over hurdles at Ayr this weekend, but Norton trainer Brian Ellison, not suprisingly, is also planning a Flat campaign for him.

A useful horse on the level, Zibeline had finished in the frame in several major handicaps on the Flat before joining Ellison, who, specifically, has the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle at the end of June mapped out for him.

It has to be said that Zibeline is a little quirky, and is not the most dependable horse ever to have looked through a bridle. That said, he is talented. And he is versatile. It would be no surprise to see him bag a sizeable prize.

Updated: 12:13 Wednesday, April 14, 2004