WETHERBY'S Charlie Hall Chase looks like a straight shoot-out between two of National Hunt's leading heavyweights, Valley Henry (2.10) and Marlborough.

Twelve months ago Marlborough survived a near-calamitous mid-race blunder to capture the Grade 1 event. But one thing's for sure, a repeat of such clumsiness would almost certainly mean curtains against an opponent of the calibre of Valley Henry.

Despite the fact Marlborough is a very classy campaigner, the overall career profile of Valley Henry, including a gallant fourth-placing in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, makes him the clear form pick for today's three-mile-and-one-furlong thriller.

The £20,000 Wensleydale Novices' Hurdle normally brings together some smart juveniles and this year is no exception.

Although Prince Adjal, Mexican Pete, and Mezereon all won on their respective hurdling debuts, none clocked the sort of cracking speed figure recorded by Redspin (1.40) when chasing home Chief Yeoman at Kempton last weekend.

Another event promising to provide a nail-biting finish is the always- competitive three-mile John Smith's Hurdle.

As usual there is a strong Irish contingent, headed by Mouse Morris, who sends over Rostropovich (3.15), having saddled Boss Doyle to land back-to-back victories in the 2000 and 2001 Grade 2 event.

The six-year-old Sadler's Wells gelding was in excellent fettle during the Spring, running with credit at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals prior to defeating Deano's Beeno in Sandown's valuable attheraces Hurdle.

"Rostropovich ran a nice race under a big weight in the Irish Cesarewitch this month and I'm very happy with him. I'm hoping the ground stays the same as his best form is on good ground," reported Morris.

On the Flat at Newmarket Mark Johnston bids to maintain his marvellous strike-rate in the Listed Zetland Stakes, a race he's won before with the likes of Double Trigger and Double Eclipse.

This time Johnston relies on Carte Sauvage (1.55), unluckily hampered by the eventual winner, New Mexican, in a Listed affair at Pontefract in October. Quite why the Stewards forgave New Mexican so readily that day I'm not sure, but at least Mark's youngster emerged unscathed and with a good chance of making amends

The Kingsley House brigade are also represented at headquarters by Nuit Sombre (3.00) in the one-mile later betdirect.co.uk Handicap

Nuit Sombre, who has slipped back to a winning mark, ran a decent race in defeat on his latest start when fifth at Newbury over a mile-and-a-quarter. He's quite a fizzy sort and this return to a stiff mile on easy ground could be the perfect panacea for getting back on the winning trail.

Andy Crook has stuck to his game plan and decided to run his Scottish Grand National hero Ryalux (2.30) over hurdles at Kelso on his seasonal comeback.

Considering Ryalux's chasing mark is currently in excess of 140, his hurdles' rating of 115 seems rather puny.

Holding such a massive advantage according to the Official Handicapper, theoretically Crook's ten-year-old faces a mere cakewalk in the Graham Todd Handicap Hurdle at the Borders track.

One note of caution - over a distance well short of his best Ryalux could be vulnerable, although on balance I believe he has the class to prevail en route to a possible tilt at next month's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Followers of the nap selection will have to wait until the very last race of the day under the lights at Wolverhampton where Vermillion Creek (9.30), who has improved markedly on turf this summer, is undoubtedly well in at the weights for the closing Bet Direct Handicap.

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