UNCLE DERMOT has a fighting chance at Brighton this evening when he competes in the Harringtons Lettings - Official Grandstand Sponsor Handicap.

Trainer Brendan Powell is keen to cash in with the eight-year-old old before the ground gets too quick for him, so now is not the time to jump ship.

And although he is hardly a handicap good thing, there is probably enough beneath the bonnet to deliver off a mark of 73, which is just 3lb higher than when he won so well at Leicester last October.

The gelded son of Arakan is race fit as well and will surely feel the benefit of freshening-up experiences at Redcar and at Windsor a week ago.

His most recent outing indicated he was coming to hand nicely as Uncle Dermot finished a staying-on fourth behind Double Czech in a fair eight-and-a-half-furlong handicap.

Winner of this race two years ago, it is also interesting to see Richard Kingscote – who did the steering that day – back at the helm on today's nap selection.

Victory for SHEILA'S LAD could be a formality in the opening Veolia - Official Recycling Partner Maiden Stakes.

The already-gelded young son of Lilbourne Lad has the key piece of form from those horses that have already raced after he finished a very encouraging third in bottomless ground at Leicester.

Clearly not short of pace, and proven when there is cut in the ground, Sheila's Lad should readily get the job done – unless one of the newcomers in the field is above average.

A first-time visor might do for GULLAND ROCK in the Brighton&Hove Buses - Official Transport Partner Handicap.

The five-year-old was a shade unfortunate at Wolverhampton last month when he was fleetingly cut short of room.

Yet he still finished third and only went down to Misu Pete by a quarter of a length.

Gulland Rock had previously ran honourably on the all-weather scene and is no slouch on the turf, having won at Catterick in April 2014 off a 5lb higher mark.

Anthony Carson's representative is not an especially straightforward fellow, however, so the hope is that the visor will do just enough to eke out that little bit more improvement.

DARK ILLUSTRATOR looks picture perfect in the ARC Long Service Awards Handicap at Wolverhampton.

The three-year-old filly is still a maiden after six tries but she has improved since thoughts turned to handicaps and could be a little better than a humble mark of 53 might suggest.

REYNO is the pick in the Sika Roofing Rapid Challenge Novices' Handicap Chase at Kempton, despite having yet to score under Rules.

GENEROUS PET can make it a four-timer in the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield, with TOWERING far from out of the equation in the Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow.