WITH all the adverse weather around, Ascot was called off late on Thursday afternoon, but with a thaw due today, at least Lingfield Park is a dead cert to go ahead.

So that is where we will start with several nice prizes up for grabs, and top of the shop is the Fillies’ Handicap over a mile-and-a-quarter at 3.10.

It is a shame that this valuable contest has only attracted eight to go to post, with a six-figure sum up for grabs. But that means we can maybe access the winner a lot easier.

However, this is competitive for the level and I suspect that the bookmakers will still be offering 3/1 for the field come the off time of this class two event.

Top of the shop from a punting viewpoint in my book has to be TWIRLING, Simon and Ed Crisford also have likely favourite Oh So Grand entered, who has any amount of improvement to come on only her fourth career start.

She still looked a wee bit green on that third start, which was hardly surprising as she was left out in front from flag fall and didn’t really know what to do.

The basic conclusion from that run is that she couldn’t respond as well as her rivals when the race turned into a two furlong sprint, and yet was still only beaten a neck into third spot.

That run came off a mark of 84 (Harry Burns took 3lbs off) and she has to race off 87 here, but Ryan Moore is on board this time and, with a further 28-days under her belt to strengthen up, she looks a big improver here. I fancy the Crisfords wouldn’t be running her if they felt Oh So Grand was very solid.

The five furlong handicap at 2.35 looks an absolute cracker and there should be a hatful of pace on up front here, and that should suit the likes of confirmed hold-up horses Alligator Alley and the old boy of the party LORD RIDDIFORD.

The selection nearly always drops himself out. He doesn’t have the requisite speed to lie up, and then he has to hope that his rivals go overly quick so he can mow them down late on.

The nine-year-old showed he retains the majority of his talent when a closing fifth of 13 to another of today’s rivals, Bergerac, and he is now some 6lbs better off with that winner for a three-and-a-quarter length beating.

He looks the each-way call to mow down his younger rivals inside the final quarter mile at likely odds of around 16/1.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned at the Surrey track, I fancy the opening seven furlong handicap at 12.15 will be a busy one betting wise — with several in form horses up in class and some out of form coming down in grade.

Bowman arrives here on a very tempting mark of just 73 and has a lovely sit in stall five here. The six-year-old has been a little too keen on each of his last three starts, but if Danny Muscutt can get him to settle then he could run well, while the likely favourite and hat-trick seeking Thapa VC goes up a grade.

He will probably require a career best here, but won very smoothly last time out — the one negative being his box in stall 11.

He finished full of running to win over the course and distance last time out, but look further behind at the replay, and you will see that DAYMAN, back in third, was desperately unlucky.

That day, the five-year-old not only suffered interference at the start, but then had his pathway blocked several times down the short home straight.

He finished full of running and granted any kind of clear air this time around. He should reverse that form on slightly better terms here.

Tonight at Wolverhampton, there are some interesting wagers at a lower level — none more so than PLUMETTE in the opener at 4.25.

The course specialist made a very pleasing return to the track following a 126-day break when she caught the eye behind A Pint Of Bear over the course and distance some 15 days ago.

That run should have brought her on sufficiently, and she can net another win at the Dunstall Park track off a very fair mark of 62 with Johnny Peate taking a valuable 3lbs off.

Later on, A TOUCH OF SILVER could go well at a huge price in the extended two-mile-handicap due off at 6.00.

There should be plenty of pace on this field, with several of the 12 runners likely to try to be in the box seat from the start. The selection didn’t do herself any favours last time out when she didn’t really settle at the head of affairs over a mile-and-a-half.

But she is bred to appreciate this extra half a mile being by Ulysses out of a Rainbow Quest mare, and if Joey Haynes can get her to settle in midfield, I fancy we will see a career best effort tonight.

Finally, have a second look at SNOOZE LINE now that he is upped in trip to 12 furlongs for the first time in his 17-race career at 7.00.

He just needs a fair gallop to aim at here, and granted some luck in the run, he should account for some totally exposed and moderate performers.