WINTERLUDE appears to be better than ever and the terms of the Betway Conditions Stakes make him an obvious choice as today's nap selection in the feature event at Lingfield.

A place on next month's All-Weather Finals Day is up for grabs – but Winterlude has already booked his ticket with victory in a fast-track qualifier at Kempton last month.

Winterlude has seemingly turned a corner at the beginning of 2017, putting some indifferent efforts behind him to win two of his three starts since the turn of the year.

Indeed, in winning his qualifier he had the reopposing First Mohican behind him, and lining up off level weights once again there seems little reason to expect that form to be turned on its head.

Vettori Rules was second that day and is a shade better off but now connections know Winterlude stays, they can afford to be a bit more positive, with Paul Hanagan on board today.

Jennie Candlish's charge admittedly had to settle for second last time out but, given he was conceding 5lb to the winner and beaten just over a length, that still rates as a decent performance.

START SEVEN narrowly failed to bring up a four-timer under a welter burden at Southwell last month but should be better for a break in the Betway Stayers Handicap.

Three times successful over a mile and six furlongs, a switch up to two miles proved beyond him when beaten three-quarters of a length by Fern Owl.

Jamie Osborne has kept him off the track for the last few weeks, so Start Seven should be suitably revived and ready to make an impact off his new mark with Adam Kirby in the saddle.

GRAND TURINA can strike Grade Two gold in the EBF & TBA Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle Finale at Newbury.

Venetia Williams' charge was beaten just under four lengths in second by River Wylde back in January, form shown in a good light by that one's magnificent run to finish third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Grand Turina subsequently ran out a seven-length winner at Warwick earlier this month and must be one for the shortlist, with jockey Charlie Deutsch claiming a handy 3lb.

DON BERSY can chalk up his fourth win on the bounce in the OCSL Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Tom Symonds has adopted a patient approach with this four-year-old, winning at Sandown and Warwick before an impressive showing at Haydock in the Victor Ludorum.

He should take this race under Aidan Coleman before going on to better things in due course.

At the other end of the scale, ERICHT has few secrets now but will appreciate a drop in trip for the Insure With Be Wiser Handicap Chase after being run out of it at the finish at Doncaster.

BAYWING was last seen running out a clear winner of the Towton at Wetherby in January and he is the obvious choice in the Liz Adam Memorial Handicap Chase at Kelso.

A shock 33-1 winner of that Grade Two contest, Baywing has plenty of potential but ground conditions put paid to his Cheltenham hopes, as Nicky Richards was unwilling to risk his charge on faster conditions in the National Hunt Chase.

He gets his favoured testing surface here and with jockey Ryan Day taking off a useful 5lb, this looks an excellent opportunity for another win before the weather really starts to improve.

ATHASSEL has been one of the stars of the winter season with six wins already in the bag – and he can make it seven when Katherine Glenister, claiming 7lb, rides in the opening sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Wolverhampton's evening meeting.

COUSIN OSCAR can prevail in the opening IML Marine Management Ltd "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle at Bangor, while stablemate THYNE FOR GOLD can star in the two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle at Stratford.