Patrick Haslam, who was quick off the blocks in 1997, can begin this year in similar vein with a double at Lingfield today. While many of his colleagues spend Christmas overeating and drinking sufficient booze to float a battleship, Haslam keeps his wits about him, scouring the programme book for opportunities for his match-fit runners.

He sends No Grousing and Ultra Beet, both ridden by Lindsay Charnock, down from his Middleham yard and both have major chances.

No Grousing can initiate the pair by taking the first division of the WWW.Barrydennis.Co.Uk Handicap over a mile.

The bay showed fair form last turf season, including when second in maidens at Ripon and Hamilton last spring and back at Ripon in the summer.

He had a break of five months before making his all-weather debut at Wolverhampton last time but showed no ill effects in running out the winner of a seven-furlong maiden.

Chasing the leaders for Lindsay Charnock, the son of Robellino came to challenge over a furlong out and led close home to deny Mutasawwar by a head.

The third horse finished a further eight lengths away and there is clearly nothing wrong with the form, as Mutasawwar obliged at Lingfield on Saturday.

Off a decent mark and having tasted success, No Grousing should be able to win again.

Ultra Beet should complete Haslam's double in the six-furlong Renown Claiming Stakes.

The Puissance gelding was in good heart 12 months ago, winning a handicap over course and distance and a claimer on fibresand at Wolverhampton.

And he gave indications of a return to form on his latest start when finishing second, beaten a length and a half, to Mallia in a handicap on the latter track last month.

Haslam appears to have found an easier race here and Ultra Beet is expected to go one better.

The Nelson Handicap can go to Nisaba, who makes a quick reappearance after scoring over course and distance on Saturday.

Should the card at Ludlow survive the weather, Henrietta Knight's Wishing William can complete a hat-trick in the Tenbury Handicap Chase.

Southwell staged the only racing in Britain yesterday, but, in desperate conditions, was not a place for the faint-hearted.

Snow fell throughout the seven-race card, the start of which was delayed by 15 minutes - five minutes to prevent a clash with the South African meeting at Bloemfontein, and further 10 minutes because of a power failure.

The problems on and off the course did not, however, deter trainer Derek Shaw and apprentice jockey Adrian McCarthy, who both completed doubles.

Newark-based Shaw, who took out a licence almost 12 months to the day, won both divisions of the Hertfordshire Claiming Stakes with easy winners Theatre Magic and Mutahadeth to record his first ever-double at odds of 39 to 1.

While Joe Fanning had the mount on Theatre Magic, Adrian McCarthy was on board Mutahadeth, and thus initiated a 35 to 1 double completed by River Ensign in the Bedfordshire Fillies' Handicap, a race run in a snowstorm.