NORTH Yorkshire apprentice Kevin Stott, who has become a familiar face walking out to the parade ring wearing the Godolphin colours, can complete a double for the world-famous organisation at Wolverhampton this evening.

Stott, who is attached to Kevin Ryan’s Hambleton yard, teams up with Middle England and Gold Trail, both trained for Godolphin by Charlie Appleby, for whom the rider has partnered four winners from 11 mounts at a strike-rate of 36 per cent.

Stott has also had five winners from 14 mounts for Saeed bin Suroor, Godolphin’s other Newmarket trainer.

Middle England was a winner on her reappearance at Lingfield a fortnight ago when comfortably landing a maiden. The well-bred daughter of Dubawi has boundless scope for further improvement and although this looks a competitive handicap, she is fancied to come out on top.

Gold Trail, unbeaten in two outings this season, goes for the featured £19,000 Coral Handicap.

The four-year-old has won both his starts at Lingfield, not by very far, but producing the goods when it mattered. He has been raised a further 4lb since his latest success and with Stott’s 3lb claim erasing most of that, is selected to oblige again.

Tony Hamilton has been enjoying plenty of success lately and the Norton jockey has another winning opportunity on nap selection Trimoulet in the coral.co.uk Handicap.

Daniel Kubler’s charge has won his last two races in the style of a horse improving rapidly. A 6lb penalty may not be enough to halt his progress.

Andrea Atzeni, who was engaged last autumn to ride as first jockey to Qatar Racing this season, has his first mount of the year for his new employers on After The Sunset in the Ladbrokes Maiden Stakes.

Atzeni, who rode in Hong Kong in December, has recently returned from a holiday in the US. He should enjoy a good ride from After The Sunset, trained by Clive Cox, who shaped well to finish a close-up third on his recent debut on this course. He should be fitter and wiser.

At Sandown, Ruby Walsh comes over from Ireland to partner Uranna in the featured Weatherbys GSB Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, Ireland’s all-conquering handler, opened her account over hurdles on her second attempt at Limerick six weeks ago.

She probably needs to step up on that performance to win this Listed affair, but she has the scope for improvement, being so lightly raced and it is surely significant that Mullins is sending her to Britain at this stage of her career.

Richard Lee has a couple of good chances on the card. The trainer saddles Russe Blanc in the Alanbrooke Handicap Chase and this strong-galloping eight-year-old did well to score at Newbury last time. He is only 4lb higher here and deserves consideration again.

In the ‘Ubique’ Handicap Chase, Lee is represented by Tresor de Bontee, who will be having only his third start of the campaign.

A winner at Lingfield on his reappearance, the eight-year-old has since finished a creditable second to Back To Bracka at Wetherby. He may be capable of defying top weight in this two-miler.

Bidourey will be a tough nut to crack in the David Lindon & Co Novices’ Hurdle.

Winner of both his starts in bumpers, David Pipe’s gelding has since made it two-from-two over hurdles. His latest display was at Leicester where he scooted home by 11 lengths. He looks a useful horse and he will take plenty of catching here as he aims to maintain his unbeaten record under Tom Scudamore.

Recent Uttoxeter winner Saffron Prince (1.30) and the lightly-raced Eaton Rock (4.45) are two others to note at the Esher course.

Sandown today: 1.30 Saffron Prince, 2.00 Russe Blanc, 2.30 Uranna, 3.05 Cowards Close, 3.40 Bidourey, 4.15 Tresor de Bontee, 4.45 Eaton Rock.

Wolverhampton today: 5.15 Optimystic, 5.45 Shirls Son Sam, 6.15 Middle England, 6.45 After The Sunset, 7.15 Gold Trail, 7.45 Trimoulet (NAP).

Today’s other meetings: Fakenham and Lingfield.