Peter Naughton picks out the horses that have made it into his Notebook this week including Lingfield second It's A Love Thing.
With so much jumping action affected by adverse weather, much of the Notebook this week is made up of all-weather performers.
Dundrum Wood ran well for a long way over an inadequate 2m in the second division of the jumpers' bumper at Lingfield on Monday.
With headgear removed, Callum McKinnes wisely made plenty of use of his mount and I liked the way the combination battled when intimidated before the home turn.
Still in front rank two-out, the stoutly bred son of Flemensfirst lost ground only in the short home straight and finished a respectable sixth with the promise of success over further and over obstacles. He has improved for wind surgery.
Katsonis was slowly away in the second division of the 7f handicap at Wolverhampton on Sunday and had to switched wide to challenge on the home turn.
Putting in good late work, the visored four-year-old finished a never-nearer fourth but would have been much closer with a better passage and a quicker start. Placed once from eight starts, he's no star but was also staying on in third at Newcastle a week earlier.
Katsonis should remain competitive at a similarly low level.
On Saturday, It's A Love Thing ran a mighty race when caught close home in the 1m handicap at Lingfield. He made a promising start at the same track in December on debut but lacked pace for 5f and 6f on his last two starts.
Returning to this more suitable trip, the son of Intrinsic tracked the leaders from a handy draw in stall three.
Switched left and ridden over a furlong out, he found plenty and looked to have the race won but was nailed on the line by similarly unexposed Vina Bay. There will be other opportunities over similar trips at a low level for the runner-up.
On Friday, Szarratu proved he's been rejuvenated by the switch to Mick Appleby's stable and the five-year-old, who won three times in Poland, could be a typical money-spinner for the leading all-weather trainer this winter.
Easy to back ahead of her return from three months off on her first start for Appleby, the five-year-old was beaten on Fibresand.
Well backed here, she travelled well close to a modest pace and found a perfect opening on the far side to win well. There could be more to come from a low handicap base.
In the same race, Winsorlot is easily forgiven defeat.
Tony Carroll's eight-year-old pulled very hard when held up in midfield and wasn't suited by the pace slowing on the far side.
Making headway over a furlong out, he was unable to close on the leaders but those who backed him heavily could be rewarded if going in again in the short term.
