MALCOLM JEFFERSON'S canny ploy of switching Clear Dawn from fences back to hurdles looks all set to pay dividends at Musselburgh today.

Although far better known as a winning chaser, there seems to be no reason why Clear Dawn (1.30) shouldn't be equally as effective over the smaller obstacles in the three-mile Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

From the point of view of handicapping there is also good reason to be upbeat about the selection, who is a few pounds lower than when picking up a 0-120 Class D Handicap Chase over course and distance 11 months ago.

Howard Johnson and his principal patron, Graham Wylie, have done well with their purchases out of Sir Mark Prescott's stable, Inglis Drever and Chivalry being prime examples.

Wylie recently bought another major player from the Newmarket yard, Coat Of Honour (12.30), a near certainty for the opening Famous Grouse Maiden Hurdle judged on his smart flat form, which included success at the Glorious Goodwood Festival.

It was a welcome sight to see Bangor-bound The Villager (2.40) return to something like his best when fourth in a fast time at Cheltenham a fortnight ago.

During a lucrative 2002 campaign, everything was hunky-dory with The Villager, who on more than occasion shaped as if he was going to be a serious threat in the competitive world of staying chases for many moons to come.

Unfortunately the wheels then fell off. He twice failed to complete, and twice finished out of the money. I'm not sure what went wrong - maybe the horse had a hidden problem, which was the root cause of his lacklustre showings.

Thankfully, that's all in the past and now The Villager is back on-song, the sky could be the limit, kicking off with the feature event on the card, the £15,000 allsports Handicap Chase.

The climax to the Manwood Wines Novices Chase could prove to be a real thriller as three of the leading participants, Barton Baron, Pink Harbour, and Amadeus, are all at the peak of their powers.

Barton Baron didn't hang around to take any prisoners at Towcester, while Amadeus has been hammering some below par rivals. But even though the pair are on the crest of a wave, preference remains for Pink Harbour (3.10).

Pink Harbour, who has won three from his last six, went particularly well for his superb young rider, Stephen Craine, when the pair prevailed by a distance at Hereford last Thursday.

A poor wide draw in stall ten tempers confidence a tad in Hits Only Cash (4.50), who by rights should take a hand in division two of the Bet Direct Nursery over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton.

All-weather specialist Paul Blockley has his team in outstanding fettle, which underlines the prospects of Hits Only Cash, not beaten far into second spot on his latest visit to the course.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.