FOLLOWERS of Musselburgh-bound Midlem Melody (3.35) have been handsomely rewarded so far this season as the ultra-consistent mare continues to plunder prize after prize.

With three wins plus several placed efforts already to her name, the money-spinning eight-year-old has proved time and again that she has more appetite for the job than most of her rivals.

Selkirk-based Midlem Melody clearly relishes performing on home soil, a point underlined by her most recent victory which came at the course two weeks ago when she simply refused to relinquish the lead in the face of a determined challenge from Celtic Legend.

Amazingly William Coltherd's tough-as-teak raider has run again since, finishing an excellent fourth in far stronger company at Kelso last Wednesday. Clearly thriving on her racing, this afternoon's Tyninghame Handicap Chase could well turn out to be a stroll in the park for Midlem Melody, who remains at the right end of the weights despite her obvious improvement.

Melsonby handler Alan Swinbank is having a pretty poor season judged by his own extremely high standards.

But good trainers like Alan cannot be kept out of the headlines for long and it will be a major shock if one of his leading lights, Collier Hill (3.00), is beaten in the Weatherby Bank Novices' Hurdle.

Collier Hill, a grand stamp of a racehorse who is equally effective both on the flat and over jumps, shouldn't really break much sweat in the two-mile event if the BHB ratings are anything to go by.

Provided the ground does not dry up too much at Chepstow, Samuel Wilderspin (2.10) has a terrific chance of taking the three-mile Showcase Handicap.

At 12 years of age, some might say he's a bit of an old codger these days, but I would beg to differ because to my way of thinking the spring-heeled gelding retains plenty of zest for the game.

Just to prove how much ability Richard Lee's representative retains, he might well have been involved in the finish of his latest outing at Cheltenham had he not given the second fence from home an almighty whack, a mistake from which the selection failed to completely recover.

Today's task is not quite as demanding, especially as Samuel Wilderspin has been granted breathing space by the Official Handicapper, who has dropped the near-veteran by an enticing 15lb during the past 12 months.

In the closing Piercefield Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle, Lilac (4.25) gets the nod, even though she is returning from a long absence.

Richard Price has taken the precaution of snapping up the services of Richard Johnson for his five-year-old, who has won at the trip and possesses far more scope for improvement than the majority of a mainly exposed line-up.

* Valley Henry will bid to get back on the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup trail when he tackles the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Fourth in the blue riband last year, the nine-year-old was a faller in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day on his latest outing.

He had finished third to Jair Du Cochet in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on his first start for Howard Johnson after being bought out of Paul Nicholls' stable.

Johnson yesterday confirmed the nine-year-old as a likely runner in the £80,000 contest over three miles 1 furlongs.

''He's all right and he runs in the Pillar. He's good enough to run,'' said the Crook trainer.

Valley Henry is generally available at 33-1 for the Gold Cup.

Johnson is set to be triple-handed at Cheltenham tomorrow with Dalaram and Grey Abbey accompanying Valley Henry on the journey to Prestbury Park.

Dalaram, a full-brother to Daliapour and trained on the Flat by Sir Michael Stoute, makes his jumps debut in the Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

''He jumps well,'' said Johnson.

Grey Abbey is to be given a confidence booster over the smaller obstacles in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle after losing his form over fences.