ZIBELINE (2.20) is fully expected to make a winning debut over the sticks at Sedgefield this afternoon.

Although the six-year-old gelding enters the jumping arena at a relatively late stage in his career, he's had a wealth of experience on the flat, where he proved to be more-than-useful, notably when finding the frame in no less an event than Europe's richest staying handicap, Newcastle's Northumberland Plate.

Trainer Brian Ellison has sensibly picked a soft contest, the Bliss Novices' Hurdle, for Zibeline to get his National Hunt campaign underway, and it will be a major shock if the Malton-based raider does not waltz away with the two-mile-five-furlong race.

Brancepeth handler Richard Guest suffered an untimely setback last week when he was informed by the Jockey Club that three of his previous winners were to be disqualified after a prohibited substance was found in their bloodstream.

Even though Guest was not at fault since the contamination was traced back to the horses' feed, Richard will still want to redress the balance as quickly as possible with the likes of Nosam (4.25) in the Black Sheep Brewery Chase.

Nosam, already the winner of countless races for the stable when Norman Mason held the reins, retains a smart turn of foot despite his advancing years and looks by far the safest option against a distinctly average bunch.

Big fields make winner-finding at Nottingham nigh on impossible, but we'll have a go starting with Baby Barry (2.45) in the Lawrence Of Arabia Classified Stakes over six furlongs.

Baby Barry's trainer Geraldine Rees has her horses in flying form and if the selection can find anything near the level of ability he was showing until about 12 months ago then he really is an absolute certainty.

There is plenty of rain forecast at the Midlands venue and if it does arrive a small each-way investment on the mudlark Infidelity (4.45) is advised.

The much-travelled Infidelity started life with Nigel Tinkler, then went to Don Enrico Incisa, and is now in the care of Alan Bailey. The filly has always shaped as if long distances would be her game, running a nice race when fifth in a one-mile maiden at Haydock last Saturday.

Now upped in trip to ten furlongs, plus off a real fighting weight, Frankie's Norton's mount will most probably still be galloping when the majority of her rivals have waved the white flag of surrender.

Firm ground has sadly caused the abandonment of all of the chase events at Exeter, creating a hurdle only card.

With the fixture robbed of much of its glamour, I'm relying on Mr Ed (3.05) to be the star of the show. He has been doing sterling work around the flat tracks this summer, and is one of the few with no worries concerning the fast underfoot conditions.

* Kieren Fallon is making every effort to make himself available for the ride on ante-post favourite Akshar in the Tote Cambridgeshire at Newmarket at the weekend.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old is a top-priced 7-1 chance for the first leg of the autumn double.

Fallon picked up a one-day careless riding ban at Pontefract last week, which would rule him out of Saturday. But he has lodged an appeal against the suspension.

The Aga Khan-owned Akshar booked his ticket for the Cambridgeshire with a good third to Naheef in a Listed event over Saturday's trip of nine furlongs at York last time.

Sir Mark Prescott, who has won the Cambridgeshire in the past with Quinlan Terry in 1988 and with Pasternak nine years later, is responsible for second favourite Chivalry.

Chivalry, who has been allocated 8st 1lb and is currently outside the safety limit of 35 for the race, has not raced since finishing fourth at Newbury last October.

Shot To Fame, gambled on into 10-1 third favourite from 25-1 for the Cambridgeshire, was sent from trainer Peter Harris's Berkhamsted base to exercise at Newmarket last week.

The gelding had his most recent outing in a mile handicap at Kempton last month when he was third to Irony, and currently has 8st 9lb in Saturday's race.

Harris won the Cambridgeshire three years ago with Katy Nowaitee and connections are expecting a bold show from Shot To Fame this time.