ATLANTIC POWER (1.10) has found the ideal opportunity to open his account over fences in the Salmon Novices' Handicap Chase at Ayr this afternoon.

Wild Storey's ten-year-old was a useful handicap hurdler a couple of seasons ago, but as yet he has failed to come up with the goods over the bigger obstacles.

Perhaps it has something to do with his diminutive stature, since the grey gelding is far from the biggest horse in the world.

However, as the old saying goes, "size isn't everything", and there's no doubting Atlantic Power's heart is in the right place because he was more or less foot perfect when putting in a clear round to finish third to Red Emperor over Newcastle's demanding fences last time out.

Ayr's obstacles won't pose anything like such a threat to the selection, and with the soft ground plus three-mile-and-one-furlong distance also very much in his favour, Atlantic Power appears as if he's ready to collect.

After a couple of bone-crunching falls, Middleham-handler Kate Walton has sensibly decided to switch Wildfield Rufo (1.40) back to hurdles.

When Wildfield Rufo landed quite a gamble over fences at Catterick last season he shaped like a very safe jumper, so the fact that he has failed to get round on his last couple of outings is a major surprise.

Clearly a promising prospect once he gets his act back together, Wildfield Rufo has plenty going for him in the New Year Novices Hurdle where he takes on some relatively weak opponents.

Following Brian Storey's recent retirement from the saddle, replacement jockeys will have to be found to partner the majority of the horses housed in Andrew Parker's stable. A classic example is Curly Spencer (2.10), who gave Storey an armchair ride when the combination won with a ton in hand at Newcastle on November 30. Parker has opted to plump for the up-and-coming conditional Paul Robson to take over the reins on Curly Spencer, bidding to win the £12,000 Showcase Handicap Chase.

Provided he stays free from injury, Robson has the ability to go right to the top of the tree in the National Hunt game, a process made all the easier while he is being cherry-picked for decent handicappers such as Curly Spencer.

Affairs get underway just before midday at Southwell where Interstice (11.55) is strongly fancied to follow-up last week's track and trip victory in division 1 of the mile-and-a-half Bet Direct FA Cup Handicap.

Trainer Tony Newcombe has never been afraid to bring his horses on the long haul up from Devon and now that Interstice has shown he can handle the all-weather surface, more success over the coming months is virtually assured.

In division 2 of the contest, Deco Star (3.30) can finally shed his maiden tag following several near misses.

The luckless Ian Wood-trained four-year-old has hit both posts and crossbar during his career, but now could the time for him to lash in an unstoppable shot.

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