RACING: Lockerbie trainer Andrew Parker can launch a successful raid south of the Scottish border at Haydock today when he sends Hugo De Grez to contest the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup.

He has come on considerably this term, and though his last three successes have been on heavy ground, connections are not worried over the prospect of faster going at the Merseyside track.

His last outing was in defeat in a valuable race at Kelso over a woefully inadequate two miles, and even then he only lost out in a tight finish to A Piece Of Cake, the pair well clear.

That run was off a mark 19lb higher than when he beat Ryalux and Truckers Tavern back in December, but he is clearly still on the upgrade and cannot be lightly dismissed.

Tees Components is the pick in the Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle, even though the ground may be on the quick side for him. Mary Reveley's eight-year-old hacked up in a similar event over three miles at Doncaster in January.

Far Pavilions is unbeaten over hurdles but faces his biggest test to date in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices' Hurdle. However, the Alan Swinbank-trained Halling gelding gave lumps of weight away to record a hat-trick without coming off the bridle last time at Musselburgh.

How good he will eventually prove remains to be seen, but he is in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and that could be the next stop if all goes well here.

Whitenzo deserves to pick up a decent prize and can do just that in the Sainsbury's Red Nose Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster. He ran a blinder when fourth in the Hennessy in November when he would have been even closer but for a bad blunder four-out.

Claymore is worth an interest in the opener at Newbury, the Gordon Chalmers 40th Birthday Novices' Chase. Oliver Sherwood's seven-year-old enjoyed a facile success last time out at Haydock. He drops back in trip today but that ought to be to his benefit.

Pretence should be followed in the Bet Direct On 0800 32 93 93 Dubai Trial Conditions Stakes at Lingfield.

A bankrupt racehorse trainer was told yesterday he would never again be allowed to have custody of horses after being convicted of "serious animal cruelty". Kamil Mahdi (53), who ran the Greenridge Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk, before his licence was revoked, was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service.

Mahdi admitted causing unnecessary suffering to five racehorses in his care, and magistrates in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, said the offences were so serious they had considered imposing a prison sentence.