WE bookmakers usually build up to a busy weekend, but this time it will be more like the conventional two days of rest after the most hectic Cheltenham Festival ever.

I think everyone will be in need of a break after the unexpected blank day on Wednesday when, because of the strong winds, the races were held over, meaning 19 races were crammed into two days.

It's always a low key Saturday after Cheltenham but there are a couple of interesting contests tomorrow, in particular the Winter Derby at Lingfield now that the start of the turf Flat season is only a week away.

Mark Johnston's Zaham is the sort of horse that could make a big impact in Group races this year and the mount of Richard Hills should go close if he takes to the all-weather surface, while the Yorkshire-based trainer has a second live contender in Dubai's Touch.

Both runners are around the 5-1 mark and Zaham in particular has been the subject of good support this week.

For those who prefer to concentrate on the jumping action the feature is the John Smith's Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, which is sometimes a good trial for the Aintree showpiece.

Arnold Layne is the horse that caused Tony McCoy to miss almost two months of the season when he fell at Warwick.

But apart from that blip he is a most progressive chaser who holds a fine chance in this race.

Caroline Bailey's nine-year-old is not entered in the Grand National itself but another leading fancy, Flintoff, is. He bounced back to form when second to Miko De Beauchene in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase and if he is in the same heart he should run a big race.

Bolton return from European action with a huge relegation six-pointer against Wigan at the JJB Stadium and they are 9-4 to repeat the win they gained in the reverse fixture in December. That was a 4-1 triumph and it's 80-1 for that scoreline to be repeated in favour of the Trotters.

Kevin Davies and Heidar Helguson are rated the joint most likely first goalscorer among the Bolton squad, both at 15-2, just ahead of Grzegorz Rasiak at 8-1, El-Hadji Diouf at 9-1 and Ricardo Vaz Te at 10s.