Moors the merrier for in-form North Yorkshire trainer Philip Kirby (From York Press)

Moors the merrier for in-form North Yorkshire trainer Philip Kirby

10:17am Saturday 14th July 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

North Yorkshire trainer Philip Kirby has his string in fine form and can continue his winning spree at Southwell tomorrow.

Kirby, based in the middle of the North York Moors at Castleton, has a small dual- purpose team under his care and underlined his versatility earlier this week. Not only did he send out two winners at Market Rasen – the first double of his career – he followed up 24 hours later with a Flat winner, Acknowledgement, at Ayr.

Avanos, the first leg of Kirby’s ‘Rasen’ double turns out again at Southwell and is fancied to score.

A winner over hurdles last Sunday, Avanos now switches to fences in the Ashfield Chad Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. It is anyone’s guess how he will handle this change of codes, but Kirby is sure to have schooled him well over the major obstacles. Adam Nicol again takes the mount.

Keith Reveley can also figure on the Southwell scoresheet courtesy of Robbie in the Mansfield Chad Handicap Hurdle.

A slow-maturing gelding, who has had relatively little racing, Robbie came good over this course and distance last month. Although he made fairly heavy weather of that task, there is surely more to come from him as he gains further experience.

The booking of AP McCoy for Danimix in the opening Mansfield Chad Novices’ Chase may be significant.

Trained by the shrewd Anthony Honeyball, Danimix returned from a lengthy absence to finish second at Bangor and has since occupied third place in a similar novice chase at Wetherby. The level of that form hardly makes him a certainty, but he is open to further improvement and the booking of McCoy looks a pointer.

Veteran handler Milton Bradley is best known as a trainer of sprinters, but go back to his earlier days and he originally made his name with jumpers.

Chepstow-based Bradley returns to his roots with The Grey One in the Mansfield Jobs today.co.uk Handicap Chase. A Hereford victor three weeks ago, he can win again.

Also worth noting are nap selection Safe Investment (4.40), sure to have benefited markedly from his latest run at Newton Abbot which was his first outing since January 1, and the well-bred newcomer Springinherstep (5.10), trained by Nicky Henderson.

At Stratford, the promising Traditional Bob (2.20) and last Sunday’s Market Rasen winner Bobowen (5.20) are both worthy of serious consideration.

Racing selections

York (today)

1.55 Toto Skyllachy, 2.25 Suraj, 3.00 Area Fifty One, 3.35 Hamish McGonagall, 4.10 Garswood, 4.45 Getabuzz, 5.20 Dream Scenario (NAP).

Today’s other meetings

Chester, Hamilton, Newmarket, Newbury and Salisbury.

Southwell (tomorrow)

1.40 Danimix, 2.10 The Grey One, 2.40 Avanos, 3.10 Railway Rico, 3.40 Robbie, 4.10 Billy Blade, 4.40 Safe Investment (NAP), 5.10 Springinherstep.

Stratford (tomorrow)

2.20 Traditional Bob, 2.50 Airmen’s Friend, 3.20 Dubawi Phantom, 3.50 Tempting Paradise, 4.20 Foster’s Road, 4.50 Daneva, 5.20 Bobowen.

Tomorrow’s other meeting

Perth.