Uisce Ur produced immediate profit for the Notebook (12/1) in the extended 3m conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Doncaster on Monday.
It was a much more fruitful journey to Yorkshire than her previous visit when falling over fences at Catterick's Christmas meeting; she won't carry a penalty over a similar trip at Ayr next Monday.
Setting a modest tempo, the nine-year-old was pushed along after three-out and although edging right approaching the last, stayed on gamely, despite very testing conditions.
Doncaster and Catterick offer better conditions than most at this time of year and this mare could be worth following in the spring. Ben Pauling hasn't had her long but might want to keep her over hurdles after she made a few mistakes over the larger obstacles.
Similarly, Ask Me Early produced immediate profit for the Notebook when landing a punt in the 3m novices' limited handicap chase at Chepstow on Saturday. Entered in the little black book on New Year's Day, Harry Fry's classy seven-year-old, who won an Irish point, had won over course and distance on handicap debut five weeks ago.
Up 6lb and proven in heavy ground, he followed up here in style, making all and responding well to pressure, as he did last time. The gelding won going away and can probably defy another rise in the weights.
Also on Saturday, I found two additions for the Notebook.
Castle Robin and Everglow ran well when sixth and seventh in the fiercely competitive Lanzarote Listed Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.
The former has been progressive since fitted with a tongue-tie and won a similar race at Cheltenham two outings ago on handicap debut. His second at Ascot last time reads well and although raised another 4lb, showed pace to lead to two-out.
Everglow was fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time but was always on the back foot after an early error, so did well to finish as close as he did. This progressive six-year-old is a green, unexposed novice and connections will have been thrilled with this handicap debut in such deep waters.
Looking ahead, fellow Notebook horse Faustinovick is handicapped to win the 2m4f novices' limited handicap chase at Huntingdon on Friday.
True, Colin Tizzard's team is having a quiet spell but this class act ran a mighty race when beaten in a photo at Chepstow last month. Touched off by heavily backed Supreme Escape, the scopey seven-year-old could take some pegging back if getting into a rhythm on this flat track, which offers a good jumping test.
Another Notebook horse, Fils D'Oudairies makes his long-awaited step up in class in the Grade Three novice at Punchestown on Sunday. Joseph O'Brien's rapidly improving six-year-old impressed at Navan before Christmas. Despite having several lengths to find between the last two fences, the strong and imposing gelding easily picked off market leaders Braeside and Yukon Lil to win going away.
That was an improved display as the French import, who won a four-year-old hurdle at Auteuil, had been keen before falling at Punchestown the time before.
This quick learner could be a major player at the spring festivals.
