TRIBAL VENTURE'S long trek from Wensleydale to Kempton should not be in vain if expected he plays a leading role in the £100,000 Racing Post Chase.

With such a strong line-up for the sought-after three-mile contest, only a buffoon would be foolish to predict the improving grey is absolutely certain to pass the post in first place.

But that's not to say Tribal Venture won't be in the thick of the action, and trainer Ferdy Murphy, who exclusively tipped the gelding each-way at ante-post odds of 100-1 to readers of the Northern Echo when third at the Cheltenham Festival, is upbeat about Tribal Venture's prospects.

"He jumped superbly when scoring on his fencing debut at Wetherby and was outstanding when winning over track and trip last time," revealed Ferdy. And it was that latest victory to which Murphy referred that could be the crucial piece of evidence for his potential backers.

Tribal Venture's previous form had suggested he was better on stiff tracks, however Kempton's flat and relatively undemanding landscape appeared to really suit the selection, currently on offer at around 10-1 for the mouthwatering feature.

Howard Johnson takes a couple of his horses down from our region, Royal Rosa, who is unlikely to cope with Young Patriarch (2.10) in the Rendlesham Hurdle, plus Convent Garden, a marginally more attractive proposition in the coralpoker.com Handicap Hurdle.

Covent Garden's career has been dogged by injury, none the less being a son of the mighty Sadler's Wells, when he's sound and 100 per cent healthy, Covent Garden has all the attributes of a spanking good hurdler.

Unfortunately due to a smashed collarbone Graham Lee is unable to tale the ride, making way for Tony Dobbin to partner Johnson's raider, whose highly-respectable fifth placing in a white-hot event at Sandown earlier this month stands up to the closest inspection.

With £25,000 in the kitty for the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield, it's a bit of a snub to see hardly any of the major players from Newmarket or Lambourn having a bash at the lucrative mile-and-a-quarter event.

The exception, Marcus Tregoning, won't mind for one minute the lack of competition from the big guns, especially as his entry, Tahtheeb (3.30), lacks experience on the polytrack surface compared to his eight rivals.

Although it is a minor disadvantage, there's hardly any kickback at the course, which roughly equates to good to fast ground on turf. As far as state-of-fitness goes, Tahtheeb won on her belated debut at Newbury last August, which only goes to show her 135-day absence from action need not be of concern to supporters of Tregoning's superbly-bred filly.

Earlier on this week, Chantaco (4.10) did the column no harm whatsoever by gamely landing an 8-1 nap.

It was an absolutely breath-taking performance by Chantaco, who produced a truly turbo-charged burst of pace to pass five horses inside the final 100 yards. Trainer Andrew Balding rates his horse quite highly and I reckon he's spot on about the three-year-old, who despite having to shoulder a 6lbs penalty might easily turn the £20,000 seven-furlong Game On Handicap into a procession.

Southwell's hastily arranged fixture following the abandonment of Newcastle has given Pawan (3.15) an unexpected opportunity to atone for Thursday's reverse at the course.

Ann Stokell, who owns, trains, and rides the five-year-old, had to settle for second spot on that occasion. Although Pawan was operating over six-furlongs, he's equally effective at this afternoon's longer trip and should once again be in the firing line.

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