Robbie FitzPatrick can take an early lead in the jockeys' championship when the British Flat turf season gets underway today by taking the opening contest at Doncaster, the Furniture Factors Handicap, on Double Blade.
A 24-runner apprentices' handicap over a mile and a half typifies everything that is worst and best about the approaching season - depending upon your perspective the race is either a punters' minefield full of mediocre horses or a wide-open, ultra-competitive heat, just waiting to be unravelled.
But whatever your view, Double Blade looks worth a bet.
Mary Reveley has been enjoying a triumphant season over jumps, with only Martin Pipe having trained more winners this season.
And Double Blade has himself been responsible for four of those successes, earning a 100 per cent strike-rate in his hurdling career to date. Those wins appear to have rekindled his enthusiasm after he was starting to look a little jaded on the flat.
Much better on the firm sort of ground he will enjoy at Town Moor, Double Blade could be well-treated on a handicap mark of just 59 and FitzPatrick is among the most-experienced and talented riders in his group so there should be no fears of pilot error.
All in all, he looks worth a bet to get the season off to a swing.
Some altogether different racehorses line up 35 minutes later when the sharpest of the sharp two-year-olds take their chance in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes.
Formerly a fair contest, the race has not thrown up in much in recent years but Sir Francis is well-regarded and can get Walter Swinburn back in the winner's enclosure for the first time since his enforced sabbatical after suffering problems with his weight.
Clog Dance will be the day's banker for many punters in the Badsworth Maiden. She takes a mammoth drop in class here and should score but won't be much of a price.
Double Oscar is a tentative selection to land the day's Showcase contest, the £25,000 Tote Exacta Stakes.
David Nicholls' charge went off the boil at the tail-end of last season, but comes back into the action a fresh horse with just a pipe-opener at Wolverhampton under his belt. Off a handicap mark of just 74 and with the fast ground and likely fast pace very much in his favour, he should go close.
Bomb Alaska gets the nod to take the Listed Doncaster Mile. Toby Balding's charge side-steps a possible outing in the Worthington Lincoln to line up here as the trainer feels the steadier pace will suit him better than the flat-out gallop of the Lincoln.
A thoroughly likeable and progressive performer last season, Bomb Alaska can continue the good work with success in this contest.
