Devil's Run, who gets his preferred easy underfoot conditions for the first time this season, looks an interesting runner in the Rocom Bt Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong at Wetherby this afternoon.

John Wade's chaser was in good form on soft ground in the first half of last year and opened his account over the larger obstacles when beating Begsy's Bullet by 16 lengths at Sedgefield in March.

Although he's been running consistently well since, the faster ground conditions have almost certainly been against him and, with his capable rider's 3lb allowance taken into account, he's certainly capable of going well from today's mark.

His tendency to make mistakes is the only worry, but he's well worth siding with in a contest where the main danger could be easy Towcester winner Dalus Park, who has been upped nearly a stone for that success.

The Wetherby Sunday Market Novices Chase over three miles is an interesting event for a Monday afternoon and Alan King's Lords Best is taken to get the better of Inching Closer.

The eight-year-old turned in his best effort yet on his second outing over fences in a decent event at Folkestone last time, when staying on dourly to get the better of Stavordale Lad by 3 lengths.

That form was franked when third-placed Atlastaboy went on to win in good style in handicap company at Taunton.

My selection is open to improvement and will be suited by the likely decent pace.

King has prospects with Shosen, who hasn't been seen for some time but is unlikely to be lacking anything in the way of fitness in the Bramham Bar Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Patrick Haslam's King Revo is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles and can extend that run in the Jaguar Antique Fairs Novices Hurdle over two miles.

Following a win at Catterick, the four-year-old was in the process of showing improved form over this course and distance last time when left clear by the fall of previous winner Kentucky Blue.

Although he's got a double penalty to carry and is taking on older horses for the first time, there's plenty of further improvement to come and he's taken to beat Tim Easterby's Bourgeois.

At Wolverhampton Ellens Academy, who shaped well after a break at Southwell last time, is interesting in the Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Handicap over six furlongs. After a three-month absence at the Nottinghamshire venue nearly a fortnight ago, the eight-year-old really caught the eye, after getting a bit outpaced in the early stages behind Prima Stella.

This is tougher but he'll be all the better for that start and decent claimer David Allan is in the saddle to remove 3lb from his load.

He should be a decent price and is taken to beat Sundried Tomato, who has slipped to a fair mark and is worth a small each-way saver.

Cool Bathwick, who shaped well after racing wide throughout at this course last time, should give another good account in the Bet Direct Interactive Handicap over a mile and a half.

* Owner David Johnson yesterday refused to rule out a tilt at the Tote Cheltenham Gold with his promising novice Therealbandit.

The seven-year-old could still tackle the blue riband, even though he took a heavy tumble four out when still going well in the Pillar Property Chase won by Jair Du Cochet at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Therealbandit is undergoing treatment from physio Mary Bromiley, but Johnson is confident of having a crack at either the Cheltenham Gold Cup or the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival in March.

''Thankfully, Therealbandit is OK and I am sure he'll be back in time for Cheltenham,'' he said.

''What happened to him in the fall could have been a lot worse and he's come back with a few superficial cuts and some bruising."