HORSE RACING is a risky business and Richard Lee is certainly chancing his arm by running Macnance (2.40) over three miles at Huntingdon today.

All of Macnance's previous best form has been achieved over a good half-mile less, so the thorny issue of lack of stamina might well raise its ugly head come the finale of the Weatherby's Bank Novices' Handicap Chase.

But for those brave backers prepared to give Macnance the benefit of the doubt in the belief she'll keep on galloping right to the line, the rewards are potentially significant since the nine-year-old is likely to go off at an enticing starting price of 6-1 or better.

The St Ives Handicap Hurdle is little more than a selling race, a point aiding the cause of Clouding Over (3.40) no end.

Keith Reveley's mare is never going to scale the heights of the National Hunt scene but she's shown enough to win a small event and analysis of recent speed figures tells us that she's gradually improving with experience.

Andrew Turnell doesn't venture down to Wincanton very often, therefore the presence of both Kew Jumper (3.30) and Noble Pasao (4.30) warrant the utmost respect.

Kew Jumper is the first of the fancied Malton raiders to have a go in the £17,000 Dick Reynolds Novices' Handicap Chase. Jockey Richard Johnson was noticeably kind to his mount when the pair had to play second fiddle to Lodestar at Wetherby in January.

In Johnson's absence, Graham Lee now gets the leg up on Kew Jumper, who is just preferred to the ultra-consistent Osiris.

Lee's prospects are not so obvious on Noble Pasao, a distant ninth at Huntingdon last time out. He didn't appear to see out the two-mile-five-furlong distance on that occasion, a theory which, if ultimately proving to hold water, should pave the way for a much more positive performance in the coralpoker.com Handicap Hurdle.

Kevin Ryan's not mucking around in his attempt to take the big bucks at Southwell, throwing a trio of his leading sand horses, Cardinal Venture (3.20), Soyuz and Cloud Dancer, at the £20,000 Bet Direct Handicap.

All three act well on the man-made surface, however habitual pace-setter Cardinal Venture has the advantage of being parked just one place off the far rail in stall two, so I expect him to win from the front.

There is also the added bonus of young Andrew Mullen's booking to partner the seven-year-old, because if it does develop into a good old-fashioned slugging match inside the final furlong, his 7lb allowance might easily make the difference between victory and defeat.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.