SIR RUSCOTT is strongly fancied to take charge of today's top race at Sedgefield, the Dickie Dods Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The marathon will test the mettle of an excellent 14-runner field to the limit in the sticky ground. Such conditions are not unfamiliar to the selection, an ultra-game winner over course and distance just over a year ago when pipping Ferdy Murphy's Rarchnamara in a desperate nip-and-tuck duel to the line.

Sir Ruscott failed to add to that solitary victory last season, but he made a welcome return to the winners' enclosure at Leicester ten days ago when he got involved in another tremendous scrap, this time with Sue Smith's Jim Jam Joey.

John Norton's gutsy eight-year-old clearly relishes the heat of battle because on each occasion he edged his rival out by a neck when the verdict could easily have gone the other way.

The late racecourse photographer Ken Bright would have been tickled pink at the good turn-out for the two-mile-five-furlong Handicap Chase run in his name at 2.55.

For my money the winner will come from lower down the weights, with the strong possibility of Real Fire and Charter Royal fighting out the finish.

Of the pair I marginally prefer the prospects of Real Fire, who came from a country mile back to grab fourth spot in a selling hurdle at Catterick last Wednesday.

That race was over an inadequate two miles and the switch back to fences, plus the longer trip, might just do the trick at an anticipated starting price of 10-1 or better.

Frankincense (2.25) represents a topical tip in the GG.Media Classified Hurdle.

Tony Lockwood's six-year-old is a winner on the Flat in his native Germany, as well as twice being placed over timber on these shores last season. Frankincense is sure to have needed his first couple of comeback outings, notably at Market Rasen recently where he was far from disgraced, finishing on the heels of the leaders.

Certain to strip fitter, together with the benefit of the promising conditional jockey Fergus King taking a useful 5lb off his back, Frankincense is definitely one to consider in a weak-looking affair.

On the sand at Southwell a low draw in sprints is normally a significant advantage, handing Robin Sharp (11.35) the opportunity to clinch the opener from stall four.

The son of First Trump has been in the wilderness for much of the past 18 months, but there were signs of a revival at the track last time out.

Lack of stamina was Robin Sharp's undoing that day, so the switch back to six furlongs for division one of the Bet Direct Handicap appears to be the ideal solution.

* Racing at waterlogged Hexham tomorrow has been abandoned.

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