Sue Smith, who has a 20 per cent strike rate at Southwell in the last five years, looks the trainer to follow at Sedgefield this afternoon.

The Bingley handler can be on the mark with Flake in the Wares Teesside Ltd 01642 358040 Handicap Chase over two miles and with Corlande in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Novices Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs.

Although stepping back in trip, Flake is a good deal more unexposed than most of his rivals over fences and created a favourable impression when winning on his chasing debut over two miles and five on New Year's Eve.

He travelled strongly in the front-rank, jumped soundly throughout and showed the right attitude in the closing stages to get the better of Daguyda, who didn't do himself justice after a sloppy round of fencing on his only subsequent run.

Corlande showed ability in Irish bumpers and left the impression on his hurdles debut and first start for Mrs Smith that the step up to this two mile and five furlong trip would be ideal.

He's open to plenty of improvement and, given his rivals today look a modest collection, he should have little trouble getting off the mark with the minimum of fuss.

John Quinn has been among the winners of late - including at Catterick last Friday - and his Archie Babe is fancied to give a good account in the Gosforth Decorating And Building Services Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

The gelding, who has dropped to a potentially lenient mark, has conditions to suit for the first time in a while over hurdles and is taken to get the better of Chris Bealby's Di's Dilemma.

Howard Johnson continues in good form and his Top Style is a very interesting runner for the stable in the Bet 365 Call 08000322365 Novices Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong.

Although he didn't show much in three starts over hurdles in Ireland in 2002 he got off the mark on soft ground in Banded company on his most recent Flat start and his first run for the stable and he's one to note from a plater's mark back over hurdles.

Johnson can also be among the winners with Jealous Mead in what looks a very ordinary Saltwell Signs Maiden National Hunt Flat Race over two miles and one furlong.

At Southwell the best bet on the card looks to be Nigel Tinkler's Mount Royale, who is fancied to win the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over seven furlongs for the second year in succession.

Tinkler's gelding is a much better performer on fibresand than Polytrack so his latest below-par effort at Dunstall Park can safely be overlooked and he's much better judged on his two previous efforts over this course and distance.

Newtonian has shown enough on fibresand to suggest he's very much the one to beat in the Bet Direct Daily Best Bets Maiden over a mile and a half, while Pawn In Life will be hard to beat at the weights in the opening claimer.

Lazzaz showed clear signs of a return to form at Wolverhampton last week and will be hard to beat from a 7lb lower mark in the Bet Direct Football Cashbacks Handicap over a mile and six.

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