ANDREW MULLEN, who will miss the start of the domestic Flat turf season this weekend because of an important date in Dubai, can take the honours on a much lesser stage at Wolverhampton this afternoon.

A double on nap selection Sleet and Fantasy Gladiator is anticipated for Mullen, formerly apprenticed to Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby in North Yorkshire but now attached to the Nottinghamshire yard of Mick Appleby, trainer of his fancied Wolverhampton mounts.

Mullen is set to ride Caspar Netscher at Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting in Meydan. The same horse, trained at Newmarket by David Simcock, provided him with his biggest-ever success in Grade 2 company in Canada last October and was recently narrowly beaten on his Dubai debut.

Mullen rides Sleet in today’s opening Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap (division one).

The four-year-old has yet to get off the mark in 14 outings on a synthetic surface, but that tells only half the story. He has finished second four times and third on five occasions.

Beaten by no more than a neck in two of his last three outings, Sleet can finally get on top today.

Fantasy Gladiator lines up in the Coral Connect Handicap.

Now a nine-year-old, he has five all-weather wins to his credit. He ran respectably on his comeback outing nearly three weeks ago at Kempton to finish fifth and should strip a lot fitter this afternoon.

Malton jockey Paddy Mathers boasts a winning chance on Stun Gun in the second leg of the Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap.

Derek Shaw’s five-year-old came good in pleasing style at Southwell last time out and, if able to reproduce that Fibresand form on this Tapeta surface, should make a bold bid.

Gold Club can provide Graham Gibbons with a winner in the Ladbrokes Handicap.

The lightly-raced four-year-old was a narrow winner at Kempton earlier this month.

Only two pounds higher here, this longer trip should suit Gold Club even better.

The veteran Ocean Legend (3.40) and Suzzanne France’s Stamp Duty (4.40), a good third here last month, are two others to note at Dunstall Park.

Over the jumps at Taunton, Makadamia is worth a second look in the C&S Electrical Wholesale Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Trained by Robert Waley-Cohen, the six-year-old, winner of one of her three hurdles outings, got off the mark over fences at her second attempt at Wetherby last month. There promises to be more to come from her and this looks a decent opportunity for her to double up.

Storming Strumpet may prove the answer to the Lewden Palazzoli Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Winner of a Fontwell bumper earlier this season, Tom George’s charge chased home Twentwo’s Taken at Exeter last time.

That was a respectable effort against a useful rival and Storming Strumpet is now fancied to step up to the number one slot.

Neil Mulholland is enjoying an excellent campaign and the trainer can add another winner to his tally with Barton Heather in the C&S Electrical Wholesale Handicap Chase.

Winner of one of his two chases and a creditable runner-up at Exeter three weeks ago, the six-year-old looks a progressive performer.

Wolverhampton today: 2.05 Sleet (NAP), 2.40 Stun Gun, 3.10 Gold Club, 3.40 Ocean Legend, 4.10 Fantasy Gladiator, 4.40 Stamp Duty, 5.10 Sammy’s Warrior, 5.40 Fab Lolly.

Taunton today: 2.15 Conducting, 2.50 Storming Strumpet, 3.20 Makadamia, 3.50 Do We Like Him, 4.20 Vodka ‘N’ Tonic, 4.50 Barton Heather, 5.20 River Dancing.

Today’s other meeting: Towcester.