SENATUS won with something in hand at Southwell last week and it is no surprise to see him make a swift return to the track for the opening Betway Casino Handicap.

Like many of Karen McLintock's young stock, the six-year-old son of Early March began his career in the bumper sphere and made a promising start by finishing third at Uttoxeter and winning at Musselburgh.

However, he had his limitations exposed in stronger events at Ascot and Newbury and was switched to the Flat last April.

Results have been mixed, both on the grass and on the all-weather, but a runner-up finish at Newcastle early in the new year suggested his turn was not far away and he went one better in good style over a mile and a half here last Tuesday.

He is turned out under the 6lb penalty and, with the extra couple of furlongs unlikely to be an issue for a bumper winner, he should take plenty of beating as today's nap selection under PJ McDonald.

ANGEL PALANAS absolutely bolted up at Southwell on his latest appearance and tackles the same course and distance in the Betway Handicap.

Karl Burke's charge has done most of his running over five furlongs and was placed on a few occasions without managing to get his head in front.

He stepped up to six furlongs for the first time in a while here at the start of the month and was beaten just a neck into third place.

Under more forceful tactics, he opened his account at the 18th attempt six days later with a six-length demolition job under his regular rider and 7lb claimer Russell Harris.

A 10lb hike makes life tougher but now he has found his niche – six furlongs on Fibresand – there is every chance he could raise his game to new heights.

TAILOR TOM should be backed when he lines up in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Newcastle.

Donald McCain's six-year-old has been in grand form of late and is unlikely to regress at Gosforth Park.

Tailor Tom showed plenty of vim to win by a neck at Bangor on January 4, after which he was sent into action a week later at Catterick.

He jumped shabbily in North Yorkshire, with costly mistakes at the penultimate and final flights.

Yet Tailor Tom only went down by two lengths and seemed to respond positively to the step up in distance.

He runs at Newcastle with another 3lb on his back but there are more races to be won with him – as long as he can brush up his technique in the jumping department.

VERY LIVE finished runner-up on his last two starts but now is not the time to jump ship ahead of the 188Bet-sponsored handicap chase at Lingfield.