FLIGHT COMMAND'S straightforward yet effective front-running style should be sufficient to see off his main rivals in Wetherby's £15,000 Celery And Stilton Novices Chase.

Peter Beaumont's gelding shovelled on the coal from the word go at Bangor last month, burning off the opposition with a pace-setting display, interspersed by some truly extravagant leaps at his fences.

Beaumont then tried Flight Command over a half-mile further, but he just didn't show the same zest and his legs turned to pulp when others around him were drawing on their superior reserves of stamina come the end of the contest.

Theoretically such problems have now been addressed and in the knowledge that his mount has the ideal cruising speed for two-and-a-half-miles, expect an attacking ride from Russ Garritty, who is fully aware that Flight Command is the type to wing his obstacles, picking up vital lengths in the process.

Royal Emperor would be the automatic choice with most punters in the Rocom Handicap Chase were it not for his recent loss of form.

Sue Smith's stable star has twice finished runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival, a far cry from today's less competitive £17,000 affair. Whatever has been ailing Royal Emperor, at least he now drops significantly in class for the three-mile-and-one-furlong encounter, although he still represents a risky proposition at potentially cramped odds.

Even though Claymore (2.30) is 9lbs higher than when winning the Cream of Mushroom HBLB Handicap Hurdle 12 months ago, I can't see why he won't once again be firmly in the driving seat during the finale of the feature £20,000 event.

This year's renewal appears to be significantly weaker compared to 2004 making Claymore's task that much easier, especially as he ran a cracker when failing by a narrow margin to catch all-the-way scorer, Supreme Prince, on his reappearance at Newbury.

Despite Howard Johnson's Grattan Lodge installed as a warm favourite with all the major bookmakers for the big race at Warwick, the £115,000 totesport Classic Chase, he might have his hands full if d'Argent (3.10) is back on song.

Alan King's generously priced 10-1 shot took a real shine to the track in his 2003/2004 campaign, reeling off three impressive wins on the bounce at the midlands venue.

Neither was d'Argent going badly at Sandown just before Christmas, only to be cruelly robbed of his chance when badly hampered four fences from the finish in a red-hot heat won by the much-improved Colonel Frank.

Granted d'Argent will be going into unknown territory over the final four furlongs of the marathon, but his relentless style suggests he'll have the field strung out like a string of sausages from a long way out in the immensely valuable three-mile-and-five-furlong race.

If Howard is out of luck with Grattan Lodge, No Refuge (2.35) might have already paid the afternoon's expenses and much more by taking the sought-after £40,000 Leamington Novices' Hurdle.

No Refuge opened his account in eye-catching fashion at the first time of asking at Aintree, but then rather blotted his copybook with some less than auspicious jumping next time out.

"Despite a mistake two out and then flattening the last hurdle at Sandown, he still galloped all the way to the line," revealed his jockey Graham Lee, who according to the Official Ratings has most to fear from the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained mare, Lady Zephyr.

Kevin Ryan's profitable season on the all-weather circuit looks all set to continue at Lingfield with Orpendonna (3.30), a leading contender for the Bet Direct Live Football In Running Handicap.

On her latest start Orpendonna probably found eight furlongs on the fibresand just a tad too far, but given her proven effectiveness over sprint distances, this switch back to a slightly shorter trip appears the logical tactic for Ryan's game filly.

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