With plenty of rain about, ground conditions have come right for Totalize in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot.

Malton trainer Brian Ellison is no stranger to picking up these valuable handicaps, on the Flat and over jumps, and in this four-year-old has an unexposed sort who could yet be anything.

Fifth in what has turned out to be a pretty solid renewal of the Fred Winter last season was a good effort and he has been kept under wraps in terms of jumping since, with three runs on the level.

It is a case of more rain the better for his chances and the way the markets have spoken in his favour this week suggests he is doing plenty right at home.

From the same mark as at Cheltenham he has to go close if the vibes are right.

Stamina will be at a premium in the One Stop Energy Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock, with Loch Ba fancied to run a big race.

Mick Channon’s seven-year-old was not seen as a forlorn hope for the Hennessy and while he finished down the field, the fact he even went for the historic Newbury showpiece with a claim of sorts says plenty.

As a winner at Newbury and at Kempton, his profile suggests Haydock will suit and he does not look weighted out of things at the moment.

Channon has done really well with the jumpers he inherited from Henrietta Knight and soft ground also holds no fears.

Carole’s Spirit promises to be very hard to beat in the Call 08006118377 OSE Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

A half-sister to the high-class Carole’s Legacy, the five-year-old is promising to put jockey-turned-trainer Robert Walford on the map, looking really decent in making it two from two over hurdles so far.

It would be no surprise to see her progress to take on some of the bigger names on the novice scene before the season is out.

Dick Doughtywylie has plenty going for him in the feature at Lingfield, the Listed Coral App Download From The App Store Quebec Stakes.

John Gosden has enjoyed a good December so far with his handful of runners and this Oasis Dream gelding deserves to pick up a prize of this nature.

The five-year-old did very little wrong when just finding the winning burst of Aussie Reigns too good in a similar race at Kempton, and given nearly all his best efforts have come at this trip of 10 furlongs rather than the mile and a half he faced there, this should be more to his liking.

Although he holds few secrets now, it is worth remembering this will be just his third start on an artificial surface and from what he has shown so far there are races to be won.

George Margarson is of the opinion there is more to come from Poyle Vinnie and hopefully he can back up that assessment in the Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap.

The Piccolo three-year-old did not see a racetrack until October this year but is rapidly making up for lost time, winning quite nicely off a mark of 65 dropped to five furlongs at Kempton.

He reportedly did not like the surface at Woverhampon the time before that and is not the first horse that can be forgiven a below-par effort at Dunstall Park.

Raised just a couple of pounds, this lightly-raced individual looks capable of more still now he has got his head in front.

It is difficult to get away from the chance of Examiner in the 32Red Novice Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained juvenile looked progressive in winning over course and distance last time out, having clearly learned from what was an eyecatching fourth on debut at Kempton.

Lady Rosamunde did not see much action durong the summer but has proved capable in reasonable company and is one to consider in the Coral Mobile “Just Three Clicks To Bet” Handicap.

Marcus Tregoning was on the mark earlier in the week and this filly has shown an aptitude for Lingfield in her younger days and is only 2lb higher than her last winning mark.

Having won at Hexham earlier this month, Cloverhill Lad has been found a quick opportunity to follow up in the Happy Birthday Gillian Findlay Novices’ Handicap Chase at Newcastle.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 12.45 Sybarite, 1.15 Easter Day, 1.50 Pendra, 2.25 At Fishers Cross, 3.00 Triolo D’Alene, 3.35 Totalize.

HAYDOCK: 12.00 Zaplamation, 12.30 Rockawango, 1.00 Carole’s Spirit, 1.30 Un Guet Apens, 2.05 Loch Ba, 2.40 Puffin Billy, 3.15 Pension Plan.

LINGFIELD: 12.20 Examiner, 12.55 Hipz, 1.25 Poyle Vinnie, 2.00 Tasrih, 2.25 DICK DOUGHTYWYLIE (NAP), 3.10 Lady Rosamunde, 3.40 Modem.

NAVAN: 12.05 Valseur Lido, 12.35 Afatcat, 1.05 Flinders River, 1.35 Paco Jack, 2.10 Ned Buntline, 2.50 The Admiral Benbow, 3.25 Atrafs Lad.

NEWCASTLE: 12.10 Greensalt, 12.40 Swatow Typhoon, 1.10 Cloudy Deal, 1.40 Galway Jack, 2.15 Hi Candy, 2.45 Cloverhill Lad, 3.20 Gone Forever.

DOUBLE: Dick Doughtywylie and Totalize.