DARLINGTON trainer Michael Dods, who has runners at his nearby Catterick course this afternoon, will also be keeping a close eye on Nottingham, where his stable stalwart Spinatrix makes her seasonal debut.

A nine-time winner, Spinatrix is a something of a course specialist at Ripon, where she has won four times.

Her latest victory came at York last autumn when she clinched the Coral Sprint Trophy in typically game style.

Connor Beasley, who has struck up such a good rapport with Spinatrix, takes the mount in this afternoon’s toteexacta Pick The 1,2 Conditions Stakes.

The soft ground conditions look ideal for her and she is fancied to run a big race on her first outing of 2015.

Forever Now should take plenty of beating in the totepool Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.

Trained by John Gosden, the four-year-old proved himself a useful colt last season, breaking his maiden at Doncaster, winning the March Stakes at Goodwood and finishing sixth in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

He looks the type to enjoy a good season and could well develop into a horse who will be competitive in Cup races.

Gosden also has useful prospects with Waady in the toteplacepot Handicap.

The mount of Paul Hanagan, the three-year-old won the second of his two starts at Sandown last season.

He starts this term off a handicap mark of 83, which looks fair.

Middleham trainer Karl Burke can lift the totetrifecta Handicap with Yourartisonfire.

The five-year-old made an encouraging start to the season when third to Chetez in the Spring Mile at Doncaster’s opening meeting.

Silvestre de Sousa takes the mount.

Back on the Catterick card, Asteroidea may be the solution to the Tom Sowerby 18th Birthday Handicap over a mile and a half.

Trained by Pam Sly, this lightly-raced mare was a winner at Ripon last summer and ended the term with a good second to Aramist at Pontefract.

There is surely more to come from Asteroidea, who will have Phillip Makin in the saddle. She carries the nap selection.

Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart has Playtothewhistle in good order and the gelding goes for a hat-trick of wins in the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap.

The four-year-old has won his last two starts at Southwell in the style of a progressive sprinter.

With his fitness assured, Playtothewhistle may be able to oblige again. Adam Carter, his regular rider, again has the mount.

John Quinn runs Trendsetter, a new recruit to his Norton yard, in the racinguk.com/anywhere 3 Devices 1 Price Handicap.

Previously with John Butler, who is no longer training, the four-year-old, fit from hurdling, was a winner on the Flat at Redcar last October. He is entitled to go well.

Also worth noting are Solar Spirit (2.20), who goes well on this course, and Lord Buffhead (5.20), who is well drawn in the five furlongs apprentice handicap and who ran well at Musselburgh on Sunday.

Catterick today: 2.20 Solar Spirit, 2.50 Foxtrot Knight, 3.20 Asteroidea (NAP), 3.50 Cara’s Request, 4.20 Playtothewhistle, 4.50 Trendsetter, 5.20 Lord Buffhead.

Nottingham today: 2.10 Acaster Malbis, 2.40 Waady, 3.10 Spinatrix, 3.40 Forever Now, 4.10 Yourartisonfire, 4.40 Outback Ruler, 5.10 Perceived.

Today’s other meeting: Lingfield and Kempton.