SPRING BIRD, narrowly beaten on her seasonal debut at Catterick a fortnight ago, returns to the same course this afternoon seeking to gain compensation for North Yorkshire trainer David Nicholls.

The six-year-old won three times last season and proved a model of consistency from beginning to end.

She made a bright start to the current campaign when going down by only a neck to Lazy Sioux over five furlongs.

Spring Bird tackles the same trip this afternoon in the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap and will also be reunited by 7lb claiming apprentice Anna Hesketh, who rode her last time out and who also won on her last season.

The combination will be hard to beat.

David O’Meara, who is aiming to saddle Custom Cut, one of his stars of last season, at Sandown on Friday, relies on Takafol in the Yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk Adventure Activities Handicap.

Danny Tudhope takes the mount on the gelding, formerly trained by Charlie Hills, who has shown promise, but who has failed to get off the mark in three maiden starts, including when a beaten favourite at Wolverhampton last time out.

Takafol returns to turf racing today and off an opening handicap mark of 64 he is fancied to break his duck.

The Eat Sleep Drink Nags Head Pickhill Handicap looks a nice opportunity for Just Paul to start his campaign in the hands of Micky Hammond.

Previously trained by Phil Kirby, this six-time winner is a pretty able performer on his day, especially over this trip of seven furlongs.

A previous course and distance winner, Just Paul looks well enough weighted to make his presence felt provided he is fit enough to do himself justice on his return from his winter break.

Trainer Karen Tutty and her apprentice daughter Gemma can land Catterick’s concluding race with Mercers Row.

A Carlisle winner last season, Mercers Row made an encouraging start to the campaign when finishing third to Hernando Torres on his reappearance at Newcastle less than a fortnight ago.

That outing should have done him good and he is selected to go well in the We Race Again 5th May Apprentice Handicap.

At Epsom, the Investec Derby Trial takes pride of place.

The unbeaten Christophermarlowe, representing John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, makes lots of appeal, particularly with a juvenile course win under his belt.

But preference is for the horse with the best solid form in the formbook, Future Empire, a Godolphin runner, trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

James Doyle’s mount won at Newmarket on his debut last season, failed by only a short-head to beat Aktabantay in the Solario Stakes at Sandown and finished off by filling third spot in Group 3 company at Newmarket in the autumn.

Piazon is an interesting runner for Kevin Ryan in the opening Investec Asset Finance Handicap.

Previously trained by Micheal Bell, the four-year-old was a dual-winner last season and also ran several good races in defeat.

He is entitled to run a big race on his first run for his new North Yorkshire trainer with Jamie Spencer in the saddle.

He is awarded the nap vote today.

Inspector Norse gets the vote in the Investec Great Metropolitan Handicap.

The lightly-raced four-year-old won here last July and also scored at Newmarket in September. He is open to further progress this year.

In the Investec City And Surburban Stakes, Collaboration, a comfortable winner at Windsor recently, looks capable of shouldering a 6lb penalty and making a bold bid to follow up for Andrew Balding and David Probert.

Catterick today: 2.00 Takafol, 2.35 Spring Bird, 3.10 Midnight Warrior, 3.45 Mudammera, 4.20 Just Paul, 4.50 Call Me Crockett, 5.20 Mercers Row.

Epsom today: 2.10 Piazon (NAP), 2.45 Inspector Norse, 3.20 Future Empire, 3.55 Collaboration, 4.30 Mezajy, 5.05 New Strategy.

Today’s other meetings: Ffos Las, Perth and Taunton.