THE Flat season opened over the weekend, highlighted by Doncaster’s two-day meeting and a one-two for North Yorkshire in the £100,000 Betway Lincoln Handicap by Richard Fahey’s Gabrial and the David O’Meara-trained Mondialiste.

Bizarrely, there is no Flat racing in Britain today, not that Alan McCabe will be complaining if he can complete a double at Warwick, one of three jumps fixtures on the menu.

McCabe, previously based near Southwell racecourse, has relocated to Shropshire and has joined forces with former Flat trainer David Loder, who has developed a state-of-the-art training complex.

Old Pride and Hi Vic, both winners last time out, provide McCabe with good prospects of a Warwick double, despite the handicapper having shown neither of his horses any mercy.

Old Pride has been raised a hefty 17lb since scoring handsomely at Doncaster a month ago. The seven-year-old consequently has much more on his plate in the Local Parking Security Ltd Handicap Hurdle, but he remains a lightly-raced horse of sizeable potential and is fancied to oblige again.

Hi Vic is awarded the nap vote in the LPS Ltd Handicap Chase, despite having gone up 14lb since his latest appearance.

The winning pointer won without being asked a serious question at Southwell four weeks ago and left the impression there was plenty more to come. He is selected to complete a good day for the McCabe stable.

Horizontal Speed will be hard to beat in the Local Parking Security Ltd Handicap Chase, provided his recent tough Cheltenham race has not left its mark.

Philip Hobbs’ smart gelding, a Wetherby winner on his penultimate start, finished fourth in a competitive novice handicap at the Festival after leading over the final fence. This is a less challenging event, but Horizontal Speed will need to be at his best to prevail. Richard Johnson takes the ride.

Saint John Henry aims to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Local Security Parking Ltd Handicap Hurdle.

David Pipe’s gelding has won his last two races at Bangor, most recently when beating Quel Elite by seven lengths. Although raised 11lb in the interim, he looks sure to go well under Tom Scudamore.

At Kempton, Artifice Sivola is fancied to come out on top in the Racing UK Anywhere Handicap Chase.

Trained by Lucy Wadham, the progressive five-year-old came good on his third start over fences when coming home with 20 lengths to spare at Fakenham four weeks ago. He has the scope to improve a good deal more yet.

Herbert Park, who has been a model of consistency, looks destined to go well in the Join The Racing UK Club Novices’ Hurdle.

Although a beaten odds-on favourite behind Mister Grez on his latest start, David Pipe’s charge had previously won at Exeter and Chepstow. He returns here after a month-long break and should be refreshed as a result.

Poker School deserves another chance in the Download Your Racing UK App Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old has finished runner-up on his last two starts at Doncaster and Carlisle and comes here after failing to justify favouritism. It is still too early to write him off, however, and it would be no surprise to see him strike winning form here.

Warwick today: 2.20 Old Pride, 2.55 Ready Token, 3.25 Horizontal Speed, 4.00 Saint John Henry, 4.30 Hi Vic (NAP), 5.05 Walking In The Air.

Kempton today: 2.10 Argot, 2.45 Herbert Park, 3.15 Artifice Sivola, 3.50 New Horizons, 4.20 Bertenbar, 4.55 Poker School, 5.25 Rock Chick Supremo.

Today’s other meeting: Chepstow.