GREEN IDEAL'S consistency can help steer Ferdy's Murphy's stable back on the road to recovery at Carlisle today.

Even though the majority of his horses have been under the weather over the past couple of months, Green Ideal (3.50) has helped keep the home flag flying by finishing in the frame on all bar one of his last five outings.

On his most recent outing at Newcastle, Green Ideal was thwarted only by the presence of the classy French import Bambi de Lorme, who after hammering Murphy's gelding, looks destined for great things on this side of the English Channel.

Thankfully, with nothing of the latter's calibre in this afternoon's line-up, the way has been paved for Tony Dobbin-ridden Green Ideal to get off the mark over fences in the Weatherby's Insurance Beginners Chase.

Dobbin also rides another strong fancy, the unbeaten Monet's Garden (2.05), in the opening John Baker Novices' Hurdle.

Both Dobbin and the trainer of Monet Garden, Nicky Richards, boast a superb strike-rate at the track and, judged by the way the combination hacked up at Kelso in December, that trend shows no signs of petering out.

Not too many horses relish the climb to the winning post at the Cumbrian course, although one notable exception is the previous track-and-trip scorer Solway Rose (2.40).

Once dubbed something of a moody beast, the selection appears to be a reformed character nowadays and I like the way this ten-year-old mare is sitting right at the foot of the weights for the longest contest on the card, the three-and-a-quarter-mile Bank Of Scotland Handicap Chase.

If further evidence is required to support the nap, Paddy Aspell's partner hasn't got too many miles on the clock so far this term, unlike many of her rivals, who are likely to be feeling the effects of a long and arduous campaign.

With the benefit of the expected extra spring in her legs, Solway Rose, who loves to race up with the pace, might well show the opposition a clean pair of heels once the heat is turned up throughout the closing four furlongs.

Bob Buckler has opted to give next week's Cheltenham Festival a swerve by sending his up-and-coming young chaser Rum Pointer (3.40) to Towcester.

Apart from one calamitous fall, Rum Pointer has taken to fences like a duck to water, winning two of his last three starts at Uttoxeter and Haydock. He was particularly impressive at the last-named venue, where he regularly picked up a length or two at his obstacles by virtue of some spectacular leaps.

* Work started yesterday on the track extension at York racecourse in preparation for hosting Royal Ascot in 2005. The project will add an extra three furlongs to the existing horseshoe shape so that it becomes a two-mile circuit.

* The Jockey Club are to hold an investigation into jockey Sean Fox's controversial fall from Ice Saint at Fontwell Park on Monday. Fox was unseated in the Cantor Sport Beginners' Chase and subsequently suspended for 21 days.

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