Mark Johnston has his string in decent nick and the Middleham handler can add to his tally with Scarab in the William Hill Handicap at Wolverhampton.

The four-year-old has only once finished out of the top three in his career, and he got off the mark for the new year with a very cosy success at Kempton earlier in the month.

He has gone up 5lb as a result of that facile victory but could still be way ahead of the assessor, with further improvement assured.

My Friend Fitz perhaps found things happening a little too quickly for him over a mile and a half last time and should feel more at home in the Play Poker @ williamhill.com Handicap at Southwell.

The nine-year-old ran out a ready winner over this course and distance a couple of starts ago and was well fancied, despite dropping in trip, for his latest outing here, when he finished fourth.

Although My Friend Fitz has been successful over the mile and a half here before, it looked as though he just failed to pick up late on and he was beaten into fourth.

It would appear this extra couple of furlongs brings out the best in him nowadays.

Although 5lb higher than his latest victory, he should still make his presence felt in an open contest.

Calmdownmate won easily last time out, and another bold show is anticipated in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Handicap.

The four-year-old seems to have taken well to the all-weather having finished in the money on four of his six starts – five of which came at this venue.

Although he has only been campaigned at a lowly level, his latest length-and-a-quarter success in claiming company suggested he is a horse firmly on the upgrade.

He has the burden of top weight on his return to handicapping but it should not stop him getting involved in the finish.

Bella Haze looks poised to make a winning debut over obstacles at Towcester.

The daughter of Midnight Legend won two of her four starts in bumpers, most recently scoring in impressive style at Chepstow.

It is anyone's guess how she will take to hurdling but if she does prove up to the task, she would appear to have every chance in a modest-looking renewal of the Towcester gg.com Mares' Maiden Hurdle.

The progressive Princeful can supplement a recent Fakenham success in the Wincanton Golf Course Novices' Hurdle.