EMPRESS Ali, successful at York last month at her local track, can follow-up at Redcar's final meeting of the season this afternoon.

Trained near Tadcaster by Thomas Tate, the four-year-old tackles the £11,500 Watch Racing UK With Free Trial Handicap with David Nolan in the saddle.

Empress Ali showed a good attitude on Knavesmire to beat Dance King, who has since franked the form by winning at Pontefract. Easy ground is a must for this mud-loving mare and she will have conditions very much to her liking this afternoon.

A 6lb higher mark obviously sets her a stiffer task but, having won two of her last three starts - she also scored at Chester in September - Empress Ali is expected to be hard to beat.

Malton-based Nolan could enjoy a fruitful afternoon. He also teams-up Call Me Crockett and Harvey's Hope, who likewise boast live chances.

Call Me Crockett, who runs in the Hold Your Christmas Party Here Selling Stakes, left the impression last time at Musselburgh that a step up from seven furlongs to a mile would suit him. Iain Jardine's charge had previously won at Ayr.

Harvey's Hope came back to winning form on this course in September. Keith Reveley's gelding could well follow-up over the same distance of one and three-quarter miles in the Bet With Your Racing UK App Handicap (division one).

Tony Hamilton, another Malton jockey, also has a couple of winning chances, both on behalf of Richard Fahey.

He rides Sacred Bond (1-30), who shaped well to finish second at Musselburgh last time and also Piccadilly Jim (2-30), a course winner just over four weeks ago and likely hot favourite in this claiming event.

The £62,500 Sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup is the feature race of the day at Exeter and God's Own, successful in this Grade 2 chase 12 months ago, is fancied to lift the prize again.

Tom George's talented gelding, who had five lengths to spare here last season, subsequently ran a succession of creditable races in smart company at Kempton, Cheltenham and Aintree. Although a second-fence faller at Sandown on his final start, God's Own is normally a sound jumper. He goes well fresh and will be a tough nut to crack under Paddy Brennan, fresh from his Charlie Hall Chase triumph at Wetherby on Saturday on Cue Card.

Ironically, Colin Tizzard, trainer of Cue Card, is in opposition to Brennan this time. He saddles Third Intention, a useful horse who has the benefit of a recent race under his belt.

Philip Hobbs has his team in great form and has good prospects in the opening Bathwick Tyres Bideford Novices' Hurdle with Duke Des Champs.

Richard Johnson's mount showed a good level of ability in his two bumpers last season. He has the credentials to develop into a useful hurdler.

Paul Nicholls sends Southfield Vic over fences for the first time in the Vix Technology Novices' Chase.

A high-class hurdler last season when he reached a lofty mark of 148, he looks a high-class recruit to chasing. Nicholls' horses are usually primed to run well first time out after a break and Southfield Vic is selected to make a winning reappearance.

Also worth noting is Welsh Shadow, who is napped to lift the Bathwick Tyres Plymouth Novices' Hurdle.

It came as no surprise to trainer Dan Skelton when this five-year-old won a bumper by seven lengths on his one and only start last season. Welsh Shadow is now ready to switch to hurdles and is expected to take high rank as the season unfolds. A bold bid is anticipated on his return to action.

Redcar

12.30 Ejeemi

1.00 Call Me Crockett

1.30 Sacred Bond

2.00 Empress Ali

2.30 Piccadilly Jim

3.00 Harvey's Hope

3.30 Dew Pond

4.00 Amis Reunis

Exeter

1.20 Duke Des Champs

1.50 Welsh Shadow (NAP)

2.20 God's Own

2.50 Southfield Vic

3.20 Belmount

3.50 Badilou

4.20 Duke's Affair