PERFECT jumping ground has ensured competitive fields at Sedgefield this afternoon, where Harry Hooly (1.40) looks good to claim the Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

Borders-based trainer Harriet Graham has done a good job on Harry Hooly, who in his younger days appeared to be a bit of a slow-coach. But patience is a great virtue when handling National Hunt horses and eventually the gelding mustered sufficient speed to open his account at Hexham just under a year ago.

"He loves undulating courses with an uphill finish," said Harriet about Harry Hooly, who has picked up three long-distance events in total, including a track and trip victory in January.

A word also about his talented young rider, Laura Hislop, originally recruited from the point-to-point arena, where she has enjoyed considerable success. Laura's quiet style always seems to get the best out of the selection, and her 7lb riding allowance is likely to come in very handy, especially as Harry Hooly must shoulder top-weight in the three-mile-and-three-furlong marathon contest.

In the later Karen Lancaster 40th Birthday Handicap Hurdle, the near-veteran eleven-year-old Lord Pat (2.40) might still have sufficient spring in his legs to show his younger rivals a clean pair of heels.

I was on hand to see Lord Pat's comeback outing at the course recently and he definitely appeared to be on the tubby side. It therefore didn't come as much of a surprise to see him run out of puff when the chips were down over the final couple of flights.

Sure to strip fitter for the run, Kate Milligan's representative should now be cherry-ripe in his bid to pick up the two-mile-five-furlong hurdle.

Broken blood vessels have hampered an otherwise promising career in staying chases for Sniper (3.40).

Horses suffering from such debilitating afflictions are normally best backed after returning from a lengthy absence as the problem seems least likely to re-occur when they have had a break from action.

Sniper has been off for 68 days, plenty of time for trainer Barry Murtagh to freshen him up. In addition it's well worth remembering he has won at the course in days gone by, plus has the services of the brilliant conditional jockey, Paddy Aspell, to do the steering in the Paddock Bookmakers Handicap Chase.

There are several interesting newcomers in the closing Northern Racing Maiden Flat Race, none more so than Hetland Hill (4.10), from Lenny Lungo's powerful yard.

Lungo is absolute mustard in this type of contest and the fact that he has waited until Hetland Hill has reached the age of six before sending him into the fray suggests the stoutly-bred gelding will be ready to strike at the first time of asking.

Stratford stages the day's most valuable race, the £10,000 Augmentis Chase over an extended two-miles-and-one-furlong.

The tight configuration of the course usually means the pace is hell-for-leather throughout, which suits Michael Chapman's prolific winner Ei Ei (3.00) down to a tee.

* Jockey Timmy Murphy is set to return to action at the weekend after being given back his riding licence yesterday.

The Jockey Club Licensing Committee met with Murphy and he is now able to ride with immediate effect.

Murphy was released from prison last Tuesday after serving 84 days of a six-month sentence for indecently assaulting a flight attendant and being drunk on board an aircraft.

The rider was released for good behaviour and his agent, Chris Broad, says a return is pencilled in for Friday's meeting at Wetherby.

Broad said: ''He's got his licence back and he's been very busy riding out at the moment."

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