LINGFIELD'S All-Weather Championship Finals Day may only be in its second year but there is no doubt that due to the standard of horses it is attracting it is here to stay, with Tryster being the best example of how the series can introduce a future star.

Just a few short seasons ago if a horse ran on the all-weather with a three-figure rating it was headline news, but those days are long gone with half of the field in the Coral Easter Classic rated over 100.

While there are some very nice horses lining up, they will all have to improve substantially to beat Charlie Appleby's Tryster, who has progressed from looking a bit of a playboy when winning the first race at the reopened Chelmsford City off a mark of 87 in January to looking a top-class prospect when coming from nearly last to win the Winter Derby.

That display proved he had bridged the gap from handicap company as he beat solid yardsticks like Grendisar, Captain Cat and last year's winner of this race Grandeur.

There was no fluke about the performance. Adam Kirby looked to be all dressed up with nowhere to go a furlong out but when the gap appeared, he quickened up like only very smart horses can to win a shade cosily.

He is now rated 112 and just to put into context where he could possibly go from here, The Fugue was rated 123 when winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last June.

That might seem fanciful talk at this stage, but were he to go and win here, and he is a shade of odds-on to do so, his rating will be creeping up towards 120 and where else do you go with a horse rated so highly?

He has made such rapid progress and as he is already gelded connections have nothing to lose from here on in.

Tryster could be the highlight of a very profitable day for Appleby, who has really dominated the all-weather season.

It will be a bit of a shock if his Portamento fails to deliver in the Unibet 3 Year Old Sprint.

He beat Guineas contender Estidhkaar in a Goodwood maiden last May by four lengths but ran no sort of a race in the Coventry at Ascot.

Touched off by the smart Bossy Guest at Newmarket in July, he then won at Lingfield and Haydock, was second in a Listed race at Doncaster and then had a break before winning a fast track qualifier easily at Wolverhampton.

Put away for this, the only thing that could catch him out is rustiness, but that does not seem to be an issue with horses from this yard.

The main danger looks to be the rapidly improving Primrose Valley.

Nicky Henderson has not enjoyed much good fortune this National Hunt season, yet a victory for Hurricane Higgins could give him something to cheer in the 32Red All-Weather Marathon.

Formerly smart when with Mark Johnston, the seven-year-old was a Glorious Goodwood winner and just on the verge of Group class.

When he reappeared in February after two and a half years out of action there was not much confidence in him but he ran right up to his old mark, even overcoming a bit of trouble in running.

There is obviously a risk of the bounce factor but he has had over a month off and he may just be a bit more battled hardened than some of his rivals.

The fact Ryan Moore has been booked bodes well.

Moore may also be on the mark in the opener, the 32Red Fillies' And Mares' Championship, on James Tate's Lamar.

David Nicholls' brave decision to miss the Lincoln with the seemingly well handicapped Sovereign Debt can reap rewards in the Ladbrokes All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes.

Useful for Michael Bell in his younger days, Nicholls took advantage of his falling handicap mark to pick up decent prize money at Lingfield twice before winning a Listed Fast-Track Qualifier at Wolverhampton.

He beat horses with a much higher rating than his own that day and the Godolphin Mile was even in the melting pot for a while, but the six-year-old, who was second in the Lockinge to Farhh at his peak, stays closer to home and the hint should be taken.

Karl Burke's Rivellino has an impressive 50% strike-rate on the all-weather after 10 starts and appeared to have taken his form to a new level when winning back in February, getting up late to deny the race-fit Glen Moss.

Good enough to be third in the Wokingham last summer, he can improve on his third place finish in the corresponding race last year. He needs to overcome a wide draw, though.

Lexington Times was a cosy winner on his return and can fend off the Godolphin army in the 32Red All-Weather 3 Year Old Mile Championship.

Up at Musselburgh, the booking of Paul Hanagan on Gordon Elliott's dual purpose performer Bayan catches the eye in the mytotepool.com Balmoral Handicap.

SELECTIONS

LINGFIELD: 1.40 Lamar, 2.10 Rivellino, 2.40 Lexington Times, 3.15 Sovereign Debt, 3.45 TRYSTER (NAP), 4.15 Portamento, 4.45 Hurricane Higgins.

MUSSELBURGH: 1.55 First Bombardment, 2.25 Bayan, 2.55 Tadqeeq, 3.30 Blaine, 4.00 Viva Verglas, 4.30 Innoko, 5.00 Third Time Lucky.

Double: Tryster and Portamento