NOT many Flat horses keep going for as long as the nine-year-old gelding Topton, lining up for his 129th career start at Southwell today.

Paul Howling's remarkable veteran has won 13 times, representing an admirable ten per cent win to run ratio. Very few horses are able boast such impressive statistics, and he has the capacity to improve them in the one-mile Bet Direct Handicap.

Perhaps the most crucial factor in deciding whether to support Topton (12.35) is the presence in the saddle of reigning champion jockey, Kieren Fallon, who has proved particularly effective aboard the selection.

One of Topton's only faults is his tendency to get behind early on, but that is where Fallon's sheer strength and willpower to get his mount into contention at the right time comes into play.

The following one-mile Maiden Handicap is no more than selling grade due to the lowly standard of the field.

One individual does, however, stand out as a having the potential to make significant progress on what he's achieved thus far and that's Tetragon (1.05). Karl Burke's handsome chestnut had one decent effort on turf to his name at Musselburgh in midsummer, after which his form went to pot.

Maybe he was simply too physically immature to do himself justice, in which case Tetragon's 133-day break from action will at least have given him time to acquire some much-needed muscle to fill out his substantial frame.

Tetragon has also been gelded in the interim, and been fitted with a visor, so it's fair to say his trainer has left no stone unturned in an attempt to rekindle his fortunes.

Despite being drawn out in the cheap seats and encountering trouble in running, Smart Hostess (3.40) still managed to win 17 days ago at Wolverhampton.

John Quinn's game filly fully deserved her victory and has a terrific chance of completing back-to-back wins in the six-furlong Champions League Handicap.

Folkestone's prospects of beating the frost appear bleak, but if the course does pass an early morning inspection Tony McCoy can keep his supporters happy by taking the opener aboard Darina's Boy (12.45).

* A severe frost on Sunday night has caused the abandonment of Sedgefield's meeting today.

Temperatures dropped to minus six overnight prompting an inspection at 1pm yesterday.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong said: ''We've had to abandon. The frost is never going to come out in time, particularly with another frost due tonight."

A total of 57 meetings have been lost to the weather this jumps season, and there will be three replacement fixtures on each of the next two Sundays, the British Horseracing Board announced yesterday.

This Sunday's meetings are scheduled for Ayr (times 2.05-5.05), Exeter (1.55-4.55) and Hereford (2.15-5.15) while the following week fixtures are planned for Carlisle (2.15-5.15), Fontwell (2.25-4.55) and Huntingdon (2.05-5.05).

* Classified remains on course for Cheltenham after completing his Festival preparations with victory at Fontwell yesterday.

Martin Pipe's seven-year-old remains 7-1 third favourite with Ladbrokes for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle after landing the odds in the Collins Stewart National Spirit Hurdle, the richest race ever staged at the Sussex circuit.

The slow early pace, dictated by Alka International and Telimar Prince, aided neither Classified nor his principal opponent Stromness, who was receiving 4lb.

However, Tony McCoy, employing a now familiar course tactic, dashed Classified into the lead on the downhill run to the fourth last flight and from there repelled persistent Telimar Prince, stretching the advantage to 1 lengths at the line.

Owner David Johnson considered that Classified emerged with due credit. ''It was a muddling sort of race and we were on a hiding to nothing,'' he said.

''It was a bit of gamble coming here but my good friends put the race on and encouraged me to come.

''It was really only a two-mile race and it developed into a sprint."