JOHN UPSON'S Sedgefield specialist Over Zealous (1.40) is fancied to rack up a third course and distance win at the track today.

Perhaps it would be going slightly overboard to suggest Over Zealous is improving at the grand old age of 12, but there's no denying the fact he's won three of his last four starts and on the strength of that evidence gets the nod in the Racecourse Video Handicap Chase.

He is renowned for his reserves of stamina rather than out-and-out speed. But it would be unfair to say he owes all his success to an ability to grind it out when others have cried enough because Over Zealous is also an extremely neat and accurate jumper.

Economy of effort at his obstacles has stood the gelding in great stead and if he records the eighth win of his career it will be a wonderful testimony to both his longevity and Upson's training skills.

Not to be outdone in the pensioner stakes, the gallant 13-year-old, Dan de Man (3.40), throws his hat into the ring for the closing Ramside Event Catering Handicap Chase.

Lyn Siddall's quirky veteran happily switches between hurdles and fences, no-one quite knowing just when he is going to condescend to co-operate. The required encouragement to back him today stems from the fact he has dropped back to a winning mark, and ran extremely well in defeat when fourth at Wetherby last time out.

If you are the sort of punter preferring to concentrate on rank bad races then take a look at Leicester's Dove Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Most of the contestants either don't want to win, or just have not got what it takes to get involved in a finish even at this lowly level.

One of the few exceptions is Dunraven (2.30), who performed perfectly respectably at Plumpton when third in far better company than this a week ago.

In the preceding Groby Beginners' Chase, Keltic Bard (2.00) should theoretically be little more than a steering job for Noel Fehily.

Charlie Mann's seven-year-old was a cut above his rivals over hurdles, and although Keltic Bard has failed as yet to score over fences, it appears to be only a matter of time judged on a couple of solid efforts at Exeter and Uttoxeter.

Perfect timing is said to be the art of good comedy, a point rather perversely illustrated by the mickey- taking Trouble Mountain, who keeps arriving on the scene a split second or two after the leaders have crossed the line at Southwell.

Dale Gibson is the jockey charged with the job of trying to persuade Trouble Mountain (2.50) to deliver the punch line on cue at the Midlands venue today.

If he gets it right I reckon the pair will win the betdirect.cco.uk Handicap over a mile-and-three-furlongs.