DUELLING BANJOS (5.10) looks well worth waiting for in the finale of a busy seven-race card at Folkestone this afternoon.

John Akehurst's six-year-old proved himself to be in excellent fettle when scoring last time out over a mile-and-a-half on the polytrack at Lingfield in February. Today he not only switches to turf, but also drops back a couple of furlongs in trip, which theoretically could put a few potential backers off siding with the selection.

Admittedly, the twin whammy doesn't appear at first glance to be a sensible tactical switch, however for the record Duelling Banjos has done well in the past on grass at distances of around eight furlongs.

In the earlier Kent Selling Handicap, the Heidi Sweeting-trained Dane's Rock (4.10) has solid credentials for the seven-furlong event.

Dane's Rock has been plying his trade to profitable effect on the all-weather circuit during the winter, picking up prize money hand-over-fist of late. He's only plating class, nonetheless Sweeting isn't aiming her three-year-old too high, and in a weak contest seems sure to give his supporters something to cheer about.

French import Saraba (4.40) is a relative newcomer to these shores, having only run twice on this side of the English Channel.

The four-year-old filly has shown definite promise on both of her sand starts, as well as previously demonstrating that she handled soft ground in her native France. Saraba has been found a reasonably easy race in which to make her British turf debut, plus has superior fitness on her side in the Lookout Restaurant Fillies Handicap.

After a magnificent three-winner Cheltenham Festival haul, trainer Nicky Henderson must be content with more bread-and-butter stuff at Fontwell with the likes of Nuit Sombre (2.20), a leading contender for the opening Racecourse Video Services Novices' Hurdle.

Although Nuit Sombre has failed to build on his inaugural Huntingdon hurdles success, Henderson's horses didn't shine in January since when the gelding has been given a 90-day rest to recover and wait for some much-needed spring sunshine.

When in the hands of Mark Johnston at Middleham, the five-year-old was a more-than-useful 80-rated mile-and-a-quarter performer, showing a level of ability which suggests he's going to make up into a very decent handicap hurdler over the coming months.

Further west at Exeter, the Raleigh Gilbert Memorial Handicap Chase is set up for the ever-popular track specialist, Kittenkat (3.30).

Norman Mitchell's mare is in the form of her life, pulling out all of the stops to win over course and distance eight days ago. She relishes the prevailing testing conditions, and her prospects have been boosted significantly by the pulses of rain that have hit the area over the past 24 hours.

For the closing Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, Compton Star (5.00) warrants the utmost respect in the two-mile-one-furlong contest.

Ron Hodges' representative only has a featherweight to carry, which combined with fact that his latest second at Hereford is already working out nicely, must give Compton Dancer a major shout.

l Followers of Janus (Colin Woods) were in the money at Warwick yesterday where four from six selections, Wizby (7-1), Danjet (5-4), Precious Mystery (5-1), plus Count Boris (14-1), all won.