Baby Barry, a winner on turf on his latest start, tries out Wolverhampton's newly-refurbished all-weather course tomorrow as he bids to complete a quick double.

The track re-opened last Saturday with a new surface, Polytrack instead of Fibresand, which received very favourable comments from trainers and jockeys.

Polytrack, which had previously been laid at Lingfield, is very much the preferred surface for all-weather racing. One of its most notable advantages is that it does not produce anything like the same amount of 'kickback' as Fibresand, which therefore makes it much more comfortable for horses and jockeys in a packed field.

That is good news for my Nap selection Baby Barry and jockey Seb Sanders, who will doubtless be trying to come from off the pace in the Sponsor A Race Handicap over an extended mile.

A gutsy neck winner from Mobo-Baco at Goodwood a fortnight ago, Baby Barry seems to be back in form after a spell in the doldrums.

A reproduction of his Goodwood form on this artificial surface will probably be good enough to see him home in front once again.

Kieren Fallon, without a winner in four mounts at Catterick yesterday, will be hoping for a more productive afternoon on the Polytrack.

His mounts include Watchmyeyes in division one of the Holiday Inn Garden Court Maiden Stakes over a mile.

Nick Littmoden's youngster ran well to be beaten only a neck at Lingfield recently and would probably not need to improve much on that performance to go one better under Fallon tomorrow.

Frankie Dettori, who leads Fallon by eight in the jockeys' championship, is fancied to score on Connotation in the wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Novice Stakes over five furlongs.

A winner at Redcar two outings ago, Paul D'Arcy's speedy juvenile has run respectably since.

Dovedon Hero may be capable of defying top-weight in the Dine At Dunstall Park Handicap over a mile and a half.

The four-year-old did not appear to get home over a two-furlongs longer distance at Redcar last Saturday after travelling strongly, and eventually finished fourth to Red Forest. This trip should suit him better.

At Ludlow, Second Paige, who has been running well in defeat, can win the bet365.com Shropshire Cup Handicap Hurdle.

Although not the easiest of horses to win with, Lucy Wadham's gelding is admirably consistent.

Also worth noting is hurdling newcomer Hawkit (3.10), twice a winner on the Flat this year.

Thursday's tips:

Wolverhampton

1.50 Watchmyeyes, 2.20 Plenty Cried Wolf, 2.50 Make Us Flush, 3.20 Connotation, 3.50 Baby Barry (Nap), 4.20 Dovedon Hero, 4.50 Whippasnapper.

Ludlow

2.10 Mabel Riley, 2.40 Xellance, 3.10 Hawkit, 3.40 Second Paige, 4.10 Princesse Grec, 4.40 The Glen, 5.10 Modaffaa.

Tomorrow's other race meeting is at Wincanton.

Updated: 12:42 Wednesday, October 06, 2004