Tim Easterby, busily preparing for another potentially rewarding Flat season, can make his mark over jumps at Newcastle this afternoon.

The Great Habton trainer, who will have more than 100 horses to go to war with again on the Flat, does well with his handful of jumpers and Trustan Times can notch his second win of the campaign in the Marriott Hotel Handicap Chase.

Easterby placed the gelding to win at Sedgefield on his chasing debut and his two outings since, at Market Rasen and Wetherby, have produced creditable placed efforts.

Trustan Times has top weight to carry in this two-and-a-half-mile contest, but he remains an unexposed horse with scope for further improvement. He should run a big race under Richie McGrath.

Lucinda Russell is having the time of her life this season from her Tayside base in the north of Scotland.

Next week will see her represented at Cheltenham by the likes of Brindisi Breeze and Bold Sir Brian, but today she has smaller fish to fry and looks like coming up with further success.

Rhymers Ha’, runner-up on his last two starts, is fancied to make it third time lucky in the Newcastle Falcons Novices’ Hurdle, while Quacity, a five lengths winner for Russell at Ayr last time out, has every chance of completing a stable double in the Newcastle Flooring Novices’ Handicap Chase.

North Yorkshire trainer Micky Hammond pulled-off a masterstroke when switching proven chaser Dawn Ride back to hurdling, and the veteran gelding got back to winning ways on this course last month.

That was his first ever win over the smaller obstacles and may have restored his confidence, which seemed to have been lacking previously over fences.

The handicapper has raised him 6lb for his recent success, but that may not be enough to prevent him obliging once more.

Joe Colliver, who is attached to the Hammond stable, again takes the mount.

At Lingfield tomorrow, Country Road is napped to win the Betfred Claiming Stakes.

The six-year-old was a convincing winner in a handicap last time at Wolverhampton for Michael Appleby, who has found him a good opportunity to follow up here.

Luke Morris has the mount.

Appleby also has good prospects with Minsky Mine in the Betfred The Home Of Goals Galore Handicap.

Although he had been cutting little ice over jumps this winter, Minsky Mine shaped considerably better when switched to Flat racing at Wolverhampton last month when finishing fourth to Jeer.

Doncaster trainer David Griffiths placed Ay Tay Tate to win on this course a couple of weeks ago and the six-year-old is selected to follow up in the Lingfield Park Owners Club Handicap.

Racing selections

Newcastle (today)

2.20 Rhymers Ha’, 2.50 Dawn Ride, 3.20 Quacity, 3.50 Dice, 4.20 Getting Ready, 4.50 Trustan Times, 5.20 Flamingo Cay.

Today’s meetings

Exeter and Southwell.

Lingfield (tomorrow)

2.10 Silver Linnet, 2.40 Country Road (NAP), 3.10 Ay Tay Tate, 3.40 Minsky Mine, 4.10 Falcon’s Reign, 4.40 Buxton, 5.10 My Mate Les.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Catterick, Kempton and Fontwell.