MARIEE has not got her head in front for over a year now but her consistency can finally pay off with victory at Chelmsford's evening meeting.

Mark Johnston's charge has yet to finish out of the first four in 11 starts but it certainly does seem a long time since she struck gold twice in quick succession last January.

Those two victories saw the handicapper pitch her at a mark of 80 and she has stayed around that perch ever since, totting up five runs on the turf before Johnston opted to draw stumps in the early part of last summer.

Given a good break before returning at Kempton in January, Mariee was not beaten far on her 2017 debut and has run well twice more since, including when second last time out.

She ran over 10 furlongs that time but, after struggling to hold her position at one stage, it is interesting that Johnston reverts to a mile for the totepool-sponsored handicap. Franny Norton rides today's nap selection.

CELEBRATION DAY is worth noting as he returns from a lengthy absence in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap.

The four-year-old looked a nice possible staying type when winning over 10 furlongs as a juvenile but last season proved a complete write-off.

Well beaten in a Sandown handicap in April, he then trailed home last of five at Haydock in May before another last place at Goodwood in June saw trainer Simon Crisford call time.

The fact he has not run since then suggests there was a real problem to be dealt with and he is a fascinating contender in this heat, with Ryan Powell on board.

KOWAIYESS hails from a fine family and can make it third-time lucky in the opening five-furlong maiden.

Third on his racecourse bow, he was then beaten just a short head at Bath last October and a repeat of that should be good enough under David Probert.

LADY TURPIN and Connor Murtagh appeared to strike up a good partnership when winning at Southwell last time and they can repeat the trick in the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Murtagh appears an eminently capable rider and he got a good tune out of the Richard Fahey-trained filly when winning over 12 furlongs. His 7lb claim is another handy addition to what is already a rosy picture.

GINO TRAIL can snap a frustrating run of seconds in the Alfa Aggregate Products Novices' Chase at Ludlow.

Kerry Lee's charge has had to settle for minor honours three times in succession after winning twice before Christmas.

He was pretty impressive in both of those wins at Ludlow and Haydock but the wheels unsurprisingly came off when he tackled eventual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air at Warwick on New Year's Eve.

Beaten just two-and-a-quarter lengths when conceding 6lb, that was certainly a sterling effort, while he again had to give that chunk of weight away to Zamdy Man when second again next time.

Lee felt Gino Trail deserved a crack at better company after that and, pitched in a Grade Two heat, he found Flying Angel too good, with that one subsequently finishing down the field after a troubled run in the JLT at Cheltenham.

Gino Trail certainly has plenty of ability and he can put it to good use here with Jamie Moore in the saddle.

TAWS should appreciate the switch down from Listed company in the mares' novice hurdle.

Rated 92 on the Flat, she has looked quite useful over obstacles, finishing fourth on her debut and placed in two Listed contests.

Her four-and-a-half-length defeat at the hands of Finian's Oscar at Exeter in February made her one to note, although she really did not handle the step up to three miles when third at Doncaster last time.

Dropped back to two miles and five furlongs here, Taws can finally hit the mark with Daryl Jacob on the reins.

PINK GIN has been the subject of some decent work reports and must be on the shortlist for the ECIC Handicap Chase as Mark Grant rides at Chepstow.

Third on his chasing bow at the start of the month, he could have a fair bit to give in this new discipline judged by that staying-on effort.