Jockey Richard Mitchell and trainer Lazel Khwalsingh will be gunning to extend their lead in race No. 3 of the CTL Claiming Series ($220,000 and less) over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Significantly, only seven races are slated on the programme, which commences at 2:15 p.m. Nine races were scheduled at the overnight stage but, as it turned out, both the open-allowance mile and 1100-metre high claiming race were abandoned due to insufficient declarations.

For the feature race, both Mitchell and Khwalsingh, who lead their respective categories with 41 points each - thanks to KEELER's victory in the first two races in January and February - team up once again with hat-trick seeker COCK ROBIN in a bid to continue their dominance in this the first series, which runs from January to June and offers lucrative cash incentives to the top trainer, jockey, owner and groom.

Section leaders

KEELER also enabled owner Theodore Thompson and groom Howard Keithon to lead their respective sections with 41 points as well.

Having won his last two races by the combined margin of nine lengths, COCK ROBIN, who was recently claimed by Khwalsingh, is super fit and should make a brave bid in the present frame of mind, despite facing stiffer opposition.

COCK ROBIN will come face to face with other top contenders DIGI N' JIGGY, who has won two of his last three races, recent winner WINNING MESSAGE, MARKET BRIDLE, who will not find the trip too sharp, STICKSONTHELOOSE and not least AVABELLE, now dropped in class with champion jockey Omar Walker taking the ride.

AVABELLE, who races for the first time since her unplaced effort behind PURE JUSTICE over the distance on a $340,000 claiming tag January 10, last won convincingly as the favourite on Boxing Day, leading home UNCLE D & ME over 1200 metres, this on a $220,000 claiming tag.

Although failing to win in two subsequent races, the United States-bred five-year-old mare from the stables of Andrew McDonald wasn't disgraced on January 1 when finishing 6-3/4 lengths fifth to SPANISH TOWN over 1400 metres on a $340,000 tag. Having lowered her sights, she should have the beating of this class, especially from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.

Good condition

AVABELLE reports in good condition and although she can expect stiff opposition from WINNING MESSAGE, COCK ROBIN and especially DIGI N' JIGGY, she has the conditions so much in her favour that she is tipped to rebound at this level.

She has good speed and while the very fit DIGI N' JIGGY, under in-form Paul 'Country' Francis, will have lots of supporters on the strength of his two wins this season, a fit AVABELLE will not go down easily.

Other firm fancies on the card are EXPLOSIVE CAT to stave off old rivals QUEEN NERISSA and A TASTE OF ORILEYS in the second race for maidens; GABROUSHE to repeat at the expense of SPACEMAN in the fourth; and ETERNAL STAR ahead of BABY JAZZ in the sixth.