PATRICK Haslam's useful all-weather performer China Castle can record his 21st success - and 20th on the sand - in the Festival of Washerwomen Claiming Stakes at Southwell tomorrow.

China Castle landed a handicap at Lingfield last March and was not seen out again until Wolverhampton in January when he faced a relatively simple task.

The gelding's delayed return to action had been due to joint problems but he showed no ill effects in a 12-furlong claimer at Dunstall Park.

As usual the eight-year-old was held up in the rear until making good headway at halfway. He took control over two furlongs out and drew readily clear to score by three lengths from Bachelor's Pad.

Despite his advancing years China Castle still retains plenty of enthusiasm and ability and he is made the nap selection to score another victory on his best surface.

Elsewhere on the card Tancred Times can turn up at rewarding odds in a division of the Alcatraz Handicap over five furlongs.

After finishing well beaten over six furlongs on her reappearance the David Barker-trained mare ran with promise when dropped back to the minimum trip for her most recent outing.

She raced prominently until tapped for speed in the closing stages but she kept on to finish fifth, beaten two and a half lengths behind the winner Miss Bananas.

Tancred Times will come on for that run and she is taken to open her all-weather account.

Kent may prove the answer to the Brian Clough's Birthday Handicap.

He could hardly go into the race in better form, having won three of his four starts to date this year - and finished second in the other.

And there was little in the way he sauntered to an eight-length victory in an amateur riders' event last time out to suggest his winning run is about to come to an end.