Ned Curtis may not yet be a familiar name to North Yorkshire racegoers, but the teenage apprentice has the potential to make a name for himself this year and he can give an illustration of his burgeoning talents tomorrow at both all-weather meetings.

Curtis heads to Lingfield to ride Clean Bowled, trained by his father, Roger and then transfers to Wolverhampton’s evening meeting, where he teams up with Spirit Of Coniston for Westow trainer Paul Midgley, his new boss.

Curtis joined Midgley last month and looks sure to get plenty of opportunities from a man who did much to put apprentice Paul Pickard on the map a couple of years ago.

What makes Curtis such a promising talent is that he proved a prolific winner on the pony-racing circuit before becoming an apprentice.

He won at Lingfield last week on Clean Bowled, previously successful at Wolverhampton, and Curtis can follow up on the gelding in the opening claiming race tomorrow.

Just under seven hours later, Curtis has a fighting chance aboard Spirit Of Coniston in Wolverhampton’s concluding sprint handicap.

The gelding, who ran well under this rider when third at Southwell a couple of weeks ago, is drawn in stall one and is expected to shine.

Remaining at Wolverhampton, a note should be made of Mullins Way (7.30), trained by Jo Hughes, whose horses are in good form.

Mullins Way went down by only half a length to Viva Ronaldo on his reappearance three weeks ago. If that outing has brought him on, he should make a bold bid to go one better this time.

Norton trainer Tony Coyle is another with some fit and healthy horses on his hands and Rio’s Girl can go well for him in the five furlong handicap.

Although Canadian Danehill will be hard to beat, a 12lb penalty for two recent wins may prove the undoing of Robert Cowell’s gelding and Rio’s Girl may be the one to pick up the pieces after two creditable efforts lately.

Recent course winner Avoncreek (5.30) has been raised only 2lb for his success in an amateur riders’ race.

It would be no surprise to see Brian Baugh’s charge go in again in this apprentices’ handicap.

Back at Lingfield, the nap vote goes to Twinkled (2.50), who is fancied to relish returning to this course, where he won over tomorrow’s distance of a mile two starts back.

He has since finished a creditable second over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton. A return to his triumphant course and distance may be just the ticket.

Also worth noting are Elaine Burke’s recent Wolverhampton winner Bavarian Princess (3.25) and Jamie Spencer’s mount Inpursuitoffreedom (5.00), who hit the mark at Southwell a fortnight ago.

racing selections

Lingfield (tomorrow)
1.40 Clean Bowled, 2.15 Lanarkshire, 2.50 Twinkled (NAP), 3.25 Bavarian Princess, 4.00 Welcome Approach, 4.30 Southern State, 5.00 Inpursuitoffreedom.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
5.30 Avoncreek, 6.00 Rio’s Girl, 6.30 Lifetime, 7.00 Rockgoat, 7.30 Mullins Way, 8.00 Thundering Home, 8.30 Spirit Of Coniston.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Sandown and Warwick.

Today’s meetings: Huntingdon, Lingfield, Kempton and Southwell.