SHAADIVA (3.20) stands out as the day's best bet at Market Rasen in the Mares' Only Novices Chase.

Trainer Alan King's stable is in sparkling form at present and there's a welter of evidence to suggest that Shaadiva is about to join in the action by winning the two-and-a-half-mile affair.

The betting public believed Shaadiva was going to break her duck over fences last time at Fakenham by making the mare 2-1 favourite, but she had the misfortune to run up against Wrags To Riches, who could turn out to be a pretty useful customer in the course of time.

Martin Pipe's decision to go straight handicap chasing with Lirta (2.20) looks a typically shrewd manoeuvre by Somerset-based maestro.

Despite the fact that Lirta is still qualified to run in novices' races, Martin has opted for the radical alternative of pitching his charge up against some far more experienced opponents in the Eric & Lucy Papworth Handicap Chase.

By and large the stocky grey has been running with credit over hurdles during the past six months, however paddock inspection confirms Pipe's opinion that Lirta possesses the physical scope to thrive now that he's been switched to fences.

If Darren Williams' mount, Takes Tutu (2.30), reproduces the level of ability he showed a couple of years ago, the others in Lingfield's ITV Claiming Stakes might as well not bother turning up.

The likes of Ascot, Haydock, and York, were the regular haunts of Karl Burke's raider in 2002-3, nowadays though, his owners are setting their sights much lower for the less competitive £4,000 seven-furlong contest.

Williams and Burke also team up with Million Percent (3.00), not without a chance for the dash for the cash in the Press Red Handicap.

On their latest foray over track and trip, Darren and partner appeared to have matters well in hand until Smokin Joe produced a withering late challenge to spoil the party inside the final 100 yards.

Michael Hills, who gave himself a long break following the climax of the 2004 turf' season, is back on the block hoping to ride a few winners on the all-weather circuit. Hills travels to Southwell where he only has one mount, which is a hint in itself for Miss Adelaide (4.40), set to defy top-weight in Interactive Fillies' Handicap.

The improving four-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong over recent weeks, taking two of her last four races in convincing style. A wide draw used to a disadvantage at the course, but that has all changed since the New Year so Miss Adelaide should not be inconvenienced by having to emerge from stall nine.

* Strong Flow is set to have his first race over fences for almost 14 months at Newbury on Saturday.

The 2003 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner is in the Aon Chase, which has been re-opened until 9.15am tomorrow as there are only seven entries.

After cruising to victory in the Hennessy, Strong Flow injured his knee when winning the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2003. He made a highly-encouraging return over hurdles at Warwick last month when third to Celtic Son and is a best-priced 10-1 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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