Howard Johnson flew the flag for the North with two winners at Cheltenham on Saturday and both Keith Reveley and Ferdy Murphy can keep up the good work by notching doubles in the South at Kempton today.
Both trainers have been in good form in the last few months and Keith Reveley supplies the day's best bet in Rambling Minster, who can successfully negotiate a step up in grade by taking the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
The step up to three miles has been the making of the progressive seven-year-old, who landed the hat-trick when successful over the same trip in similar conditions at Newcastle on his most recent start.
That form has been franked by the subsequent win of third-placed Sharp Belline and, as my selection has only had five races over timber, his best days are surely ahead of him.
Although he is up in the weights and in grade, his style of racing suggests he's not the easiest for the handicapper to pin down accurately and he's fancied to beat Murphy's Basilea Star, who bids to complete the nap-hand of wins.
Reveley and jockey Richie McGrath can also be on the mark with Celtic Legend, who is finally getting his act together and appeals as a likely sort in the CISTM Racing Club Novices Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.
He disappointed at left-handed Catterick on his penultimate start but, given this course and distance is very similar to his last two wins at Musselburgh, he should be very much at home under today's conditions.
Murphy's Tribal Venture was unlucky to get rid of his rider when stumbling before the race began in earnest at Newcastle last time and is fancied to make amends in the Up And Coming Novices Chase over three miles.
Prior to that mishap, the seven-year-old showed more than enough in a Grade 2 at Lingfield, and behind a smart sort (and subsequent winner) in Jazz d'Estruval at Ayr in December, to suggest he'll go close here with a clear round.
Murphy can also be on the mark with the consistent Ulusaba, who is worth forgiving for a below-par effort last time and is the fancy in the St Clement Handicap Chase over three miles.
Calatagan is better than the bare form of his last run in a competitive handicap at Sandown, where the leaders went off too quickly, would suggest and he's worth an interest in the HBLB Handicap Hurdle over two miles.
At Wolverhampton New Wave, who caught the eye on his debut under a considerate ride, looks the one to be on in division one of the Bet Direct On ITV Page 367 Maiden over seven furlongs.
Lynda Ramsden's Greenwich Meantime has taken well to this surface and should go well in the Bet Direct On 0800 3293939 Handicap over a mile and a half, while the same stable's Tanforan has claims in division two of the aforementioned maiden.
Kevin Ryan has his team in good form and his Raymond's Pride, who shaped well after a break at Southwell last time, is the fancy in division two of the Bet Direct On At The Races Handicap over seven furlongs.
Although all his wins have been over sprint distances, he shaped that day as though the return to this trip will be in his favour and he's taken to beat Reg Hollinshead's Prince Of Gold, who has decent claims on his best form on this surface.
* Sue Smith will have to supplement Patriarch Express at a fee of £10,000 if the eight-year-old is to take his place in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after his brave victory at Cheltenham.
In a thrilling finish to the Grade Two Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle, Patriarch Express and Jim Culloty edged out the Timmy Murphy-ridden Korelo by a head, with Westender a further eight lengths away in third.
Connections of the 8-1 winner have until March 12 to decide whether to add him to the big race at the Festival, for which he received a quote of 14-1 from the sponsors.
They make former champion Baracouda their evens favourite from 7-4 to regain his crown in the race formerly known as the Stayers' Hurdle.
Royal Rosa was well beaten, but trainer Howard Johnson said: ''I am over the moon with him.
''He'll come back for the Stayers' Hurdle and will improve two stones for this run. I would like to get another race into him before Cheltenham - he's a good horse all right.''
Ambobo was quoted at 8-1 second favourite with Coral (12-1 with Paddy Power) for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices Hurdle after an impressive 2-length victory from Brewster in the Grade Two Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty's mount, a 14-1 shot, stalked the early pace set by Eurochancer before touching down in front at the third-last, and he appeared to have a bit in hand at the line.
The diminutive Kingmambo gelding was the first runner in Britain for handler Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, who trains a string of 60 horses 30 miles from Bordeaux on the south-west coast of France.
Akilak jumped to the head of the betting for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after a deeply impressive and authoritative performance in winning the Wragge & Co Juvenile Novices Hurdle under Graham Lee on his first run over timber.
The 50-1 shot was completing a Grade Two double for Howard Johnson - who also had two winners at Doncaster - following the success of Grey Abbey in the Pillar Property Chase.
Akilak earned a quote of 7-1 favourite with VC Bet for the juvenile championship race.
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