SEDGEFIELD stages the day's sole National Hunt meeting and the fixture has been rewarded by the appearance of the two riders currently fighting out the race for the jump jockey's title, Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson.

Due to a broken arm, McCoy spent a frustrating six-week spell on the sidelines earlier on in the season allowing Johnson to build a handy lead at the top of table, an advantage he has maintained (78-64) even though Tony is now back and firing on all cylinders.

Perhaps it will be a different story come the Cheltenham Festival next year, but for now I'm siding with Richard to keep McCoy at bay with the likes of Newsplayer (4.40) in the feature race on the card, the cantorindex.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Expertly handled by one of the rising stars of the training ranks, Moreton-in-Marsh-based Richard Phillips, Newsplayer had his rivals shot to bits a long way from home when waltzing to facile nine-length success at Newton Abbot in July.

It was the performance of an improving horse and not surprisingly Phillips drew stumps with his seven-year-old waiting for bigger fish to fry and better prize money during the winter months.

The time has come to propel Newsplayer back into the limelight and despite his 79-day absence from action I still believe he will be good enough to repel a relatively modest field.

McCoy gets his chance to draw first blood in the opener aboard Zibeline (2.10), who won on his debut at the track in workmanlike fashion over two-miles-and-five-furlongs a fortnight ago.

However, it is far from certain whether Zibeline will be suited by this afternoon's much shorter 17 furlong trip for the Cantor Mobile Novices' Hurdle, so although he's sure to be a popular choice with the punters, my vote goes to Prize Ring (2.10).

George Moore's game four-year-old ran on the same day as Zibeline, demonstrating admirable resolution when digging deep under a power-packed drive from Richie McGrath to nail the long time leader Parsifal slap-bang on the line over course and distance.

Zibeline certainly isn't a horse with an obvious turn of foot, and even with McCoy's urgings from the saddle he might not be able to beat Prize Ring for speed when the coal is being shovelled on in earnest during the closing stages of the contest.

Heavy rain turned the going at Ayr yesterday into a virtual quagmire, which should suit Linda Perratt's mudlark, Friar Tuck (4.50) in the closing six furlong River Trust Handicap.

The 28-runner cavalry charge will take some winning therefore it's best to stick to a horse we at least know is supremely well handicapped. That comment undoubtedly applies to Friar Tuck, a frustratingly inconsistent individual who has slipped significantly down the ratings as the result of a fruitless 2003 campaign.

There's no point in tipping up overtly an in-and-out sprinter such as Friar Tuck without good reason and he did suggest his turn was near when chasing home Ellens Academy at Redcar recently.

Add into the melting pot the fact that Perratt's speedster finished runner-up to Look Here Now over track and trip off an 11lb higher mark a year ago last August, and we have a convincing argument to risk a small each-way wager.

Not a great deal to get excited about at Leicester except maybe Great View (5.00) in the finale at the Midlands venue.

Great View ran a cracker when third in a blanket finish at Epsom earlier this month, and seeing as the fourth placed horse, Khuzdar, has since won at Bath, the form of Annabel King's reliable gelding stands up to the closest inspection.

l Wetherby has been forced to cancel the two chases planned for its meeting tomorrow. The track will instead stage a six-race hurdle card.

''The chase course is firm, hard in places, and unraceable,'' said chief executive Tim Betteridge.

''The hurdle course is good to firm, firm in places, and we're watering."

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