KARL Burke looks poised for a big year and he's already enjoying success on the all-weather at present, with both Yeeoow and Undertow successful over the last few days for the Middleham trainer, who has more than 100 horses at his Spigot Lodge base.

Yeeoow, a good servant over the years, took the claimer at Lingfield last Friday under Dougie Costello before Undertow shed her maiden tag at Southwell on Tuesday.

The Middleham Park-owned filly had shown promise in her first two races and stepped up to make it third time lucky under Joey Haynes as she got home by half a length from Best New Show.

"She's a nice filly, I've always liked her and she's from a speedy family," said Burke.

Burke's neighbour Patrick Holmes also has his horses in great form and was unlucky not to have a double at Kempton on Wednesday evening.

Borgardus didn't get the breaks in the 1m 3f handicap and is a horse to keep on the right side of in the coming weeks.

Holmes gained compensation in the concluding handicap when Cookie Ring sprang a surprise under Paula Muir, giving her a night to remember as this was her first winner in the saddle.

Coming home at 33-1, Muir, who is based with Holmes, looked stylish and strong and it's likely this will not be her only success in the saddle.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will not be blaming the very testing ground this weekend as he sends Virak and Vibrato Valtat into battle.

Virak has endured a slightly frustrating season, finishing second to Wakanda in valuable handicaps at Newcastle and Ascot on his last two starts, for which the handicapper has raised him by 6lb to a mark of 159.

The seven-year-old was handed an entry in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup last week, but his next assignment is more likely to come in handicap company this weekend at Haydock, where he is set to carry top weight in the Peter Marsh Chase.

"He's in the Peter Marsh and the Sky Bet Chase, but could even run in the Cotswold Chase," Nicholls said on Tuesday.

"If the ground was very testing at Cheltenham, it could be worth a look as he wouldn't have any penalties. At the moment he's running at Haydock, but we'll have to see.

"Virak is in no-man's land. He's got to improve a huge amount, but it was worth making the entry (for the Gold Cup)."

One runner from Ditcheat certain to be lining up tomorrow is Vibrato Valtat, who is one of seven remaining entries for the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

The grey finished third behind Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, who could re-oppose, in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton last time and Nicholls felt that performance was as good as any the Voix du Nord gelding has produced.

"Vibrato Valtat ran probably a career-best the other day at Kempton," he said.

"He's running again this weekend and the more testing the ground, the better it will help him. He's a good, solid horse who gives his owners an awful lot of fun without probably being quite a true Grade One horse.

"He's probably just reached his limit, but it's amazing how far he's gone and he'll definitely be going further after this weekend.

"We might look at the two-and-a-half-mile race at Ascot and the Ryanair. He won't run in the Champion Chase unless it came up absolutely bottomless. He's crying out for a trip, but if the ground is testing this weekend that will be a big help to him.

"He always runs a solid race. He won the Haldon Gold Cup and that probably was his Gold Cup, if you see what I mean."