TOM GEORGE sends his improving young mare Madge Carroll (1.00) to Huntingdon this afternoon in the hope of following up her runaway Folkestone success.

On Monday last week Madge Carroll hammered her hapless rivals by virtue of a faultless round of jumping at the Kentish coastal course.

Considering that was the six-year-olds' first try over fences, she could hardly have been more impressive, potentially paving the way for a money-spinning campaign during the forthcoming months.

If extra encouragement is required to invest in Madge Carroll, form study reveals she won on the self-same card exactly 12 months ago when justifying 13/8 favouritism to pick up a novices' hurdle contest.

Current evidence suggests George's representative is shaping up to be even better over fences and with one or two other fancied runners in the line-up, she could go off at quite a lively starting price in the Tattersalls Mares' Only Novices' Chase.

The £20,000 Tote Credit Club Hurdle has attracted a decent field of specialist two-milers, including Kim Bailey's progressive previous course-and-distance scorer Pirandello, plus the Venetia Williams-trained Chem's Truce (1.30).

There is plenty of rain forecast for the area and if by chance drizzle turns to deluge then Pirandello is the one to be on, but as things stand at present Chem's Truce just gets the nod.

Following a series of placed efforts, critics of the selection will be full of the fact that he has become something of a professional loser. I'm not so sure Chem's Truce is an out-and-out thief, especially as the horse who narrowly beat him at Kelso recently, Beat The Heat, is quite a smart cookie.

Although Ferdy Murphy's Wynbury Flyer (3.00) failed to land a mini-gamble at Catterick on his latest start, compensation may be to hand in the Flahive Conditional Handicap Chase.

Wynbury Flyer looked a picture in the paddock that day and having dropped significantly down the ratings over the past couple of seasons, his turn, it seems to me, is overdue.

Quickish ground has sadly restricted Ludlow's feature, the Victor Boyne Memorial Challenge Trophy, to just a smattering of contestants.

Among those going to post is the eleven-year-old near veteran Dragon King, enjoying a new lease of life having won his last two starts.

Another to warrant even more respect is the less exposed youthful stayer Mighty Montefalco (2.10), who reeled off a magnificent four-timer last term, culminating at the headquarters of jump racing itself, Cheltenham.

* Richard Johnson is hoping the forecast rain arrives to increase confidence behind Hand Inn Hand in the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, trained by Henry Daly, is 7-2 favourite for the £100,000 chase over two miles four and a half furlongs.

''Hopefully his run over hurdles at Aintree will have brought him on a bit,'' said Johnson. ''We'd like a little rain - good ground would be ideal for him. The trip is spot-on, and on 10st 10lb he looks to have a great weight.''

Second favourite Fondmort is by no means a certain runner. Trainer Nicky Henderson said yesterday he is ''leaning towards'' letting Fondmort take his chance in the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day instead of attempting to win the Tripleprint.

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