AFTER having to settle for second spot three times in a row, Le Biassais (1.20) should finally go one better at Newcastle this afternoon.

Lenny Lungo's promising six-year-old has run up against two above-average performers in the guise of Bewleys Berry and Roman Ark on his last couple of starts, both of whom have gone on to win in far better company since that time.

Seeing as Le Biassais meets nothing of the calibre of those two rivals in the Saltwell Signs Novices' Hurdle at the Tyneside track, it will be nothing short of a major surprise if he doesn't take the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Lungo also has a chance of scooping the Woodford Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle with Sara Monica.

Sara Monica powered to an impressive win at Hexham in December, unfortunately the victory was all too easy as far the handicapper was concerned and as a result the mare was hiked a leg-buckling 10lbs in the ratings.

For a horse described as "slow" by her trainer, such a harsh rise might prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back and in the circumstances Jack Lynch (3.20) is marginally preferred.

Jack Lynch hasn't achieved a great deal to date, however it's worth noting that this is his first try in a handicap, which, coupled with the continuing superb form of trainer, Ferdy Murphy, might conceivably bring about significant improvement in the gelding's fortunes.

Leicester stage the most valuable event of the day, the £10,000 Golden Miller Handicap, in which Spring Pursuit (3.30) is re-united with Timmy Murphy.

It was Murphy who gave the selection a sensational ride to score at Chepstow much earlier in the season, holding onto his hard-pulling partner until unleashing him for a race-winning burst of acceleration in the closing stages.

Murphy has not sat on the horse since and I don't believe it's a coincidence that Spring Pursuit has failed to add to the success. The ace Irish pilot does get on particularly well with the nine-year-old, now back on the sort of mark off which he should once again be able to make his presence felt.

In the following two-and-a-half-mile Handicap Chase, previous course and distance winner, Parish Oak (4.00), has the ability to shrug off a couple of disappointing efforts.

The Ian Williams-trained raider has failed to build on his back-to-back triumphs at late last year, but he's much too good an individual to write off just at the moment, therefore an eachway wager is recommended.

Two starts ago the remarkable 14-year-old, Redoubtable (3.40), notched his 'umpteenth sprint success, and the old boy hasn't finished yet judged on the enthusiasm he shows whenever setting foot on a racecourse.

Redoubtable's hold-up style is perfect for Lingfield, where the pace-setters often go off too fast and then fall in a heap come the final furlong. It's only then that David Chapman's amazing veteran slips into overdrive and pounces, more akin to a horse half his age.

* Leicester hold a 7.30am inspection due to parts of the course being in danger of becoming waterlogged if forecast overnight rain materialises.

* Mark Rimell has ruled out a quick return to action for Monday's Kempton winner Crossbow Creek.

The seven-year-old is entered for the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, a race which could feature former champion hurdler Rooster Booster among a classy field.

Although Rimell reports Crossbow Creek to be in top form after his two-and-a-half-length beating of Mcbain on Monday, he will not take his chance in the Listed event.

''He's come out of yesterday's race very well but he certainly won't be running at Sandown on Saturday,'' said Rimell.

''I simply wanted to put him in in case Rooster Booster wasn't entered, and then we would have had the option, but he won't be running.''

Crossbow Creek has proved most progressive this season, stepping up from a decent second at Wetherby to take last month's totesport Lanzarote Hurdle