PHILLIP Makin, back firing on all cylinders after spending the second half of last year on the sidelines, is aiming to get back in the winning groove at Southwell tomorrow on the eve of the Flat turf season.

The North Yorkshire jockey suffered a serious spinal injury late last summer when he was unseated while riding work for his Thirsk boss, David Barron. It was a bitterly disappointing episode for Makin, who, with 48 winners chalked-up, was heading for his best-ever campaign at the time of his accident.

His recovery has, inevitably, been a slow one but he had his comeback ride on this course a couple of weeks ago and tomorrow sees opportunity knocking on Barron’s Flores Sea, my nap selection, to register a welcome winner.

Beaten only half-a-length by the in-form Highly Regal on this course a couple of weeks ago, Flores Sea has a great chance of going one better in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Handicap.

Barron also has good prospects with Little Eden, who looks a very interesting runner in the Membership At Southwell Golf Club Handicap.

The gelding is returning from a lengthy break, having not raced since last spring. But he was a course and distance winner on his public debut before finishing a creditable second in a Musselburgh handicap. A son of Piccolo, he appeals as the type to do well this year. Neil Brown has the mount.

Jimmy Quinn teams-up with Very Well Red, who should be hard to beat in the Book Tickets On-Line At southwell-racecourse.co.uk Handicap.

Peter Hiatt has really found the key to this six-year-old, winner of his last two starts and plainly in excellent heart at present. A hat-trick could be on the cards.

John Quinn, who has booked Malton apprentice Frederik Tylicki (remember him winning last year’s John Smith’s Cup at York on Flying Clarets for his boss Richard Fahey?) to ride Blythe Knight in Saturday’s Lincoln Handicap, saddles Edas in the Hospitality At Southwell Racecourse Selling Stakes.

A course winner in January, Edas suffered two narrow defeats at this venue the following month and has since finished unplaced over hurdles.

He should go well under the in-form Graham Gibbons, who also has a winning chance on Tri Chara in the Southwell Handicap, provided the Reg Hollinshead-trained five-year-old can cope with this drop back to six furlongs.

At Wolverhampton’s evening meeting, Aggbag should go well in the Dine In The Horizons Restaurant Handicap.

Narrowly denied by Straight Face at Southwell last time, Aggbag, a previous winner on this course, has solid claims.

The promising Servoca (7.20) and the in-form Bold Adventure (7.50) are two others to note on this final card, before attention swings to Doncaster’s opening turf meeting on Saturday.


Racing selections

Southwell (tomorrow)
2.00 Tri Chara, 2.35 Little Eden, 3.10 Edas, 3.45 Fin Vin de Leu, 4.20 Very Well Red, 4.55 Flores Sea (NAP).

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
6.50 Ahlawy, 7.20 Servoca, 7.50 Bold Adventure, 8.20 Aggbag, 8.50 Chjimes, 9.20 Baby Josr.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Ascot, Fontwell.

Today’s meetings:
Towcester, Wolverhampton, Southwell, Carlisle, Hereford.