2.15 Southwell:

Five of the six winners have carried weights of 8-8 or more in this three-year-old handicap event which eliminates the bottom two runners in the race if you take the stats seriously.

The pick of the relevant eight horses who emerge from the 'superior weight' stats will hopefully prove to be MAGILINI, WISH AGAIN and LOOK AT ME NOW.

David Barron (MAGILINI) had saddled four of his last seven runners to winning effect at the time of writing, whilst WISH AGAIN makes his all weather debut. LOOK AT ME NOW remains relatively unexposed following just five assignments to date.

4.15 Southwell:

There are not too many maiden handicaps throughout the season whereby this event could develop into an interesting contest.

ON a Tuesday limited to all-weather racing, STEELCUT (Wolverhampton, 2.00) leads the way in the opener at Wolverhampton.

Only seven have been declared for the 5f dash but there is plenty of course form on show, with the selection a four-time winner at the west Midlands venue. All of those victories came during 2011, the latest achieved just after Christmas when he posted a career best effort on the artificial surface, finishing his race with a flourish to mug Griffin Point on the line. The time posted was decent for the grade and the fact they went a true gallop, teed things up nicely for the improving eight-year-old. He races off 68 today but was a winner at Chester last May off a higher mark, ran well in claimer on Thursday and is top-rated on my calculations.

Some people despite earning their place on top of the pile through nothing but hard graft are just so damned lucky. Champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls is such a man. And while he nurtures his elite team of top class horses for the spring festivals, two of his fallen warriors continue to grind their way back to health after career ending leg injuries.

A happy retirement guaranteed for both, Master Minded and Denman have much to look forward to- though they might not realise it while feeling sorry for themselves in their boxes.

It was reported today by Nicholls and owner Paul Barber that Denman has a few options open to him. A great suggestion for our money is to send him hunting. What a fantastic thrill he would be for the more recreational rider, soaring his way through the English countryside- tanking along, as only he can.

CANADIAN DANEHILL's (Wolverhampton, 2.20) losing run stretches back to July of 2009 but he has been in excellent shape recently and can claim a deserved sevententh victory on Monday.

The winner of nearly £110,000 in prize money over a 10-year career finds himself seriously well handicapped on a mark of 50 and has been beaten a combined distance of just two and a half lengths on his last three outings. Short-headed at Southwell two runs ago when the line came just too soon, he made what looked like a winning move late on at Wolverhampton last time, only to be overhauled by a rampant Avonvalley. The veteran is clearly not the force of old but the eyeshields have rejuvenated his enthusiasm and he can see off an in-form Argentine.

All Sunday's meetings have been lost to bad weather and the next scheduled 3YO handicap event is at Southwell on Tuesday. Keep dry and warm.....catch you soon.

Trainers of 3YO handicap winners in 2012 (up to and including Monday 6th February):

3--David Evans (7/1--3/1--16/1)

3--Mark Johnston (4/1--11/8*--11/2)

3--Sylvester Kirk (4/1--10/11*--16/1)

2--Jane Chapple-Hyam (5/2 & 5/1)

2--Tim Pitt (11/4 & 2/1)

2--Jamie Osborne (20/1 & 8/1)

2--Kevin Ryan (7/4** & 11/10*)

2--Mark Usher (8/1 & 4/1)

2--Stuart Williams (5/6* & Evs*)

1--Alan Bailey (9/1)

1--John Berry (Evens*)

1--Mick Channon (2/1*)

1--Keith Dalgleish (8/1)

1--Richard Fahey (5/1)

1--James Given (11/8*)

1--Paul Green (3/1**)

1--David C Griffiths (13/2)

1--Rae Guest (4/1)

1--Peter Hedger (15/2)

1--Alastair Lidderdale (5/1)

1--Daniel Mark Loughnane (13/2)

1--Phil McBride (6/1)

1--Michael McElhone (2/1)

1--George Prodromou (8/1)

1--Frank Sheridan (50/1)

1--Marcus Tregoning (Evens*)

1--Roger Varian (9/2)

1--Ian Williams (5/6*)

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FINGERS crossed that Sunday racing at Kempton avoids the snowy fate that befell Wolverhampton yesterday afternoon and EMERALD ROYAL (Kempton 2.05) gets his chance in a competitive opener.

The lightly-raced four-year-old is hardly a world beater but is finding his feet in 2012 and quickened in style for the grade over course and distance on Wednesday. He has previously bumped into on on-fire Daniel Thomas, slammed by seven lengths but showing a determined attitude to hold on to second place. He is going in the right direction and can hold his own in this slightly higher class.

GABRIAL'S BOUNTY (Kempton, 2.35) is another on an upward curve and clocked well when winning here 18 days ago. Franny Norton had to get serious with Mick Channon-trained inmate but when the response came, the result was never in doubt.