JONJO O'NEILL has his first high-profile runner for nine weeks when Iris's Gift (2.10) steps out to contest Lingfield's £100,000 totesport Chase.

For all the millions of pounds that have been pumped into O'Neill's magnificent Jackdaws Castle stables, he was powerless to prevent a debilitating virus carpeting his horses over a period during which normally the yard would have been competing for all of National Hunt's major prizes.

"I haven't got a clue how my horses are going to run," declared Jonjo following their enforced period on the sidelines, although that comment must be taken with a pinch of salt because he wouldn't be chancing the likes of Iris's Gift unless he thought the gelding was fully recovered.

As far as form goes, the top-class grey has yet to run over fences, nevertheless he won Cheltenham's 2004 Stayers' Hurdle, then swiftly followed up in an equally prestigious three-mile event at Aintree's Grand National meeting, which must count for plenty in the context of today's race.

Further west at Wincanton, Howard Johnson seeks to find out if Inglis Drever (3.05) has the pace required to be effective over two-miles against some battle-hardened rivals.

Should Inglis Drever pass with flying colours then surely the next stop will be the Champion Hurdle in around four weeks time. Somehow though, unless the race happened to be run in right old-fashioned glue-pot, then Rigmarole (3.05) is marginally preferred to the Graham and Andrea Wylie-owned mud-lark.

The reason for Rigmarole's disappointing last three efforts have been put down to a breathing problem by connections. "Rigmarole had a wind operation before Christmas and he's been going nicely at home since," revealed trainer, Paul Nicholls.

Given that Colonel Frank (3.35) is the probably best horse Brendan Powell has trained to date, he'll be hoping the bold jumping eight-year-old can maintain his current winning spree by making it four-in-a-row for the £50,000 Listed Country Gentlemen's Association Chase.

Powell is determined not to over-face the gelding at present and his patience has been rewarded seeing as apart from Royal Auclair, Colonel Frank really doesn't have a great to beat in the extended three-mile-and-one-furlong contest.

Peter Beaumont's horses are always to be feared, especially seasoned campaigners such as Hunters Tweed (3.50), who bids to defy the double whammy of top-weight plus a 300-day absence in Uttoxeter's feature event, the £50,000 Singer & Friedlander Handicap Chase.

Hunters Tweed proved himself capable of performing on jump racing's premier stage when thumping the classy Kelrev by eight lengths at Prestbury Park just under a year ago.

Clearly his break from action has to be a minor worry, but he has gone well when fresh in the past, not his mention a life-long adoration for the prevailing testing surface.

Jamie Spencer's decision to forfeit a guaranteed mouth-watering salary as number one jockey to Aidan O'Brien just goes to show money can't buy everything in this world.

Spencer was unhappy in his work and good for you Jamie to err on the side of happiness, rather than being tied to his previous paymasters. As a result of the split, Spencer is now riding freelance opening up opportunities on the likes of Hidden Dragon (3.15), fancied to blow away his rivals in the £20,000 betfred.co.uk Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Hidden Dragon is a big bull of sprinter, capable of imposing his authority from the front on a race as soon as the stalls fly open. Paul Blockley's powerhouse is scheduled to emerge from gate one, and even though there'll be plenty of his opponents snapping at his heels, I can't envisage anything getting past Spencer and partner in the five-furlong dash.

l Shane Kelly was in fine form at Wolverhampton yesterday, completing a near 303-1 four-timer.

Three of his winners - Iced Diamond (11-2), Regency Red (15-8) and Roman Maze (11-4) - were for Shrewsbury trainer Mark Brisbourne. Kelly also struck on Almavara (10-3) for Newmarket-based handler Jeremy Noseda.

One jockey out of luck was Fran Ferris, who was banned for two days (March 1 and 2) for improper riding on Ffizzamo Go.

He was found to have used his whip with excessive force on the four-year-old, who finished unplaced in the Spot The Ball On 0800 500 000 Handicap won by 16-1 shot Cambo.

l Edredon Bleu is only 50-50 to try to retain his 100 per cent record at Wincanton in today's Country Gentlemen's Association Chase, according to trainer Henrietta Knight.