MARKET RASEN'S tricky fences shouldn't be a problem to Radcliffe (2.20), a leading contender for the stamina-sapping feature race on the card, the Symes Broomer Handicap Chase.

The Venetia Williams-trained chaser put in a series of spectacular leaps when running extremely well to bag fourth spot on his latest start in the always-competitive Sussex National at Plumpton 11 days ago.

Radcliffe led his rivals a merry dance in the aforementioned three-and-three-quarter-mile contest, battling on with tremendous resolution until relinquishing the lead with only two fences of the marathon affair to negotiate.

He appeared for all the world as if he was going to win turning for home on that occasion, but when the fuel gauge dropped to zero in the closing stages the game seven-year-old had nothing left to offer.

It was without doubt a valiant effort by Radcliffe, who with the vital assistance of being dropped a handy couple of furlongs will hopefully put his rivals to sleep with another superb exhibition of jumping this afternoon.

Punters bent on striking the first blow against the bookmakers need look no further than Jaseur (12.50) in the opening Conditional Jockeys Hands And Heels Handicap Hurdle.

The 11-year-old has been on a sharp downward curve of late, however he showed distinct signs of a revival when placed at Hereford recently, a performance which strongly suggested he remains capable of making his presence felt in today's lowly selling grade.

Captain Corelli (1.30) heads to Leicester seeking to retrieve losses incurred when failing to justify favouritism on his reappearance at Plumpton.

Perhaps trainer Mark Pitman miscalculated by opting to try his horse over a seemingly inadequate distance, because having set the majority of the pace, Captain Corelli could only find one gear when his main rivals sailed past him three fences from the finish.

Mark has responded by drastically upping his charge in trip from two miles to three, a ploy which, combined with the more testing nature of the ground, might easily bring about the desired improvement required to collect the Back And Lay Maiden Chase.

Squandamania (2.00), who is pretty useless on anything other than a bog-like surface, has the chance to come into his own given the state of the hurdles course, reckoned to be like a glue-pot.

John Norton's near-veteran has drawn a blank over the past few years, but seeing as the Halfway House Selling Handicap Hurdle really is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff, his long wait for a return to the winners' enclosure might finally be over.

My best news at Wincanton concerns the tough-as-teak gelding, Barren Lands (2.40), who after spending the whole of last season sidelined through injury, appears to be right back on-song after finishing third in a red-hot event at Exeter on only his second outing after that enforced lay-off.

* Trainer Vicky Scott faces the Jockey Club's disciplinary panel today after Touch Closer failed a post-race test after winning at Kelso. The seven-year-old gelding was found to have the prohibited substances phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone in a sample taken after the Raceday Saddlery Handicap Hurdle on April 5.