John Quinn, who is preparing to saddle Character Building in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree, can underline his versatility by clinching the feature race at Pontefract’s opening meeting of the new Flat season tomorrow.

The Norton trainer has his horses in rude health. Two winners at Catterick on the first day of the new campaign last Wednesday were followed by a single strike at Doncaster on Saturday.

There is every chance Speed Dating can add to Quinn’s rising Flat tally in the £12,500 Paddock Package Handicap.

Formerly trained by Sir Mark Prescott, for whom he won four Flat races, including three all-weather events, Speed Dating was purchased primarily as a potential hurdler by Quinn.

In four races this season, however, the gelding has failed to cut much ice and Quinn plainly feels the best policy is to return him to what he does best.

The fitness of Speed Dating is assured after his hurdling exploits and the expected good ground will also play to his strengths. It looks significant that Quinn has secured the services of top jockey Jamie Spencer to ride the five-year-old.

Quinn also has an interesting runner in the opening Pontefract Loyalty Card Handicap in Northern Flyer, already a winner on the all-weather circuit this season, who is the mount of Paul Hanagan.

A bold show is anticipated, but Northern Flyer may have to play second fiddle to Hits Only Jude, trained at Sledmere by Declan Carroll and a winner at Musselburgh last Friday.

That success came in an apprentices’ race, which means Hits Only Jude escapes a penalty for this race. The talented Neil Farley again has the mount.

No matter how he fares on Northern Flyer, Paul Hanagan has other chances on the card. Malton’s champion jockey is fancied to complete a double on Tom Sawyer and Blackmore.

The latter, who has been in good form on the all-weather for Newmarket trainer Julia Fielden, should go well in the Jamaican Flight Handicap. Even more interesting is Tom Sawyer, who contests the £10,350 Dalby Stand Handicap.

Previously trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien and the winner of a Tipperary maiden last season, Tom Sawyer was bought for 32,000gns at Newmarket Sales last October and is now with Norton trainer Julie Camacho.

The three-year-old shaped well, with Hanagan on board, on his first outing for Camacho to be beaten only a neck by the race-fit Joe Le Taxi at Wolverhampton.

That outing should have benefited him and Tom Sawyer is expected to go well in this six furlong dash.

The Princess Royal will be attendance at today’s Kelso meeting, where the Princess Royal Trust For Carers Handicap Chase is run in honour of her charity commitments.

Sheriff Hall, runner-up at Carlisle and Ayr on his last two starts, is fancied to go one better in this event, while Moon Indigo is napped to win the Jason Sweeney – Sporting Sculptures in Stainless Steel Handicap Hurdle for Howard Johnson.


Racing selections

Kelso (today)

2.30 King Mak, 3.00 Sheriff Hall, 3.30 Chamirey, 4.00 Kings Grey, 4.30 Hold On Julio, 5.00 Moon Indigo (NAP), 5.30 Streamtown, 6.00 Reaping The Reward.

Today’s other meetings:

Folkestone and Windsor.

Pontefract (tomorrow)

2.10 Hits Only Jude, 2.40 Munbaher, 3.10 Tom Sawyer, 3.40 Blackmore, 4.10 Speed Dating (NAP), 4.40 Florestans Match, 5.10 Gunslinger.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:

Exeter and Kempton.