A trainer to follow

MARY REVELEY is the trainer to follow as jump racing emerges from an enforced two weeks hibernation today. Frost and snow has scuppered all turf action for the past two weeks and will also have severely hampered many a trainer's gallop routines.

So betting at Musselburgh today is fraught with danger as there is little telling which of the 70 runners in action will be fully fit and which will have suffered most from the cold snap.

But past history suggests that Reveley's sole runner Flyaway Blues will lack for little in fitness.

Last year she landed a double at the north's first post freeze meeting at Sedgefield in January.

And she scored with her first runner following a month's wipe out of racing at Catterick back in March, 1986.

So Flyaway Blues is well worth supporting in today's Whitewater Novices Handicap Hurdle.

Fitness is not the five year old's only attraction as he also comes here on the back of a victory, albeit in selling company at Catterick.

The gelding is none too easy a ride and scored only by a neck that day, having looked likely to prevail by a good deal further for much of the race.

But that means he remains on a good mark today, when a step up to two and a half miles will also be in his favour.

Local trainer Peter Monteith is likely to have his string in good order as the Musselburgh area has reportedly missed much of the harsh weather.

So his Montrave is a good bet to follow up last month's course victory in the Musselburgh 10th Anniversary Handicap Chase.

Domino Flyer is worth backing for the Primrose Handicap, last event on a nine race card at Southwell.

He has scored over today's course and distance on two of his last three starts, his latest success coming in a notably well contested event for amateur riders.

Plans to speed up the announcement of results will be considered by the Jockey Club stewards on Monday.

Delays in confirmation of results due to stewards inquiries can hit the Levy by deterring punters from betting on subsequent races and the Jockey Club has already introduced measures aimed at shortening procedures.

Further proposals now to be discussed include measures to conduct some inquiries via the phone, between stewards in the viewing box and jockeys in the inquiry room.

The Tote has funded the present improved communications system and will also provide the extra equipment needed for the new proposals.

Subject to the stewards approval, the new procedures will go on trial at Southwell next month and may then be extended to Lingfield and Wolverhampton before introduction elsewhere.