HUSBAND and wife team Richard and Carrie Ford are nearly always worth following at Sedgefield and this afternoon should be no exception because Little Brown Bear (3.25) has a great chance of lifting the feature race on the card, the Royal Bank of Scotland Handicap Chase.

The £7,000 event is being contested over three-miles-and-three furlongs - not a distance for the faint-hearted, especially as there are a daunting 21 fences to be negotiated as the runners complete a full three circuits of the racetrack.

But for backers of Little Brown Bear it is comforting to know that Carrie has already steered the tough and genuine eight-year-old to one course and distance victory back in May, when the pair meted out an eight-length hammering to Sireric.

Cynics might well point out that the Cheshire-based raider has been rested for the past three months, however, that's where Richard plays his part.

He's a trainer who rarely sends his horses to war until he's happy with their overall level of fitness, further evidence that Little Brown Bear will give us a good run for money.

Tony McCoy's presence aboard Magic Box in the John Wade Selling Handicap Hurdle adds extra spice to an otherwise low-grade affair.

Such a high-profile jockey booking may conspire to send Magic Box off at an unrealistically short-price, and in search of better value a few coppers on Flying High (2.50) is highly recommended.

Martin Todhunter's gelding, successful over fences at the course just over a year ago, has subsequently failed to build on that victory and it's therefore no great surprise to see Todhunter switch his inmate back to hurdles.

The decision to return Flying High to selling grade is, however, the sort of bold ploy which deserves to be rewarded.

A fair old posse of Irish horses, including Ontos (2.20) and Stero Heights (5.00), have nipped over on the ferry to try and snitch some of our prize money.

Ontos is no stranger to these shores having launched a successful smash-and-grab raid to Huntingdon late last month.

He was made favourite on that occasion and duly landed the spoils under a confident ride from Mick FitzGerald.

The fact that FitzGerald is travelling up from his southern base to renew his association with Ronnie O'Leary's hurdler speaks volumes for Ontos's prospects of completing a quick-fire double.

The case for Stero Heights in the closing Tom Ellison Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle is not quite so straightforward.

What we do know is that Stero Heights is in very good form, whereas the majority of the home team appear handicapped to the hilt.

Clocking Off (3.15) represents a rare runner at Epsom for David Barron, a hint not to be ignored in the Vokera Nursey.

Clocking Off blazed a trail up front for the first five-and-a-half furlongs at Ripon recently, only to be nailed in the shadow of the post by Tim Easterby's fast-improving youngster Somnus.

With nothing of the calibre of the latter in today's line-up, the way is paved for Clocking Off to resume his winning ways.

* Darryll Holland enjoyed a fruitful afternoon at Southwell yesterday, notching up a 180 1/2-1 treble.

Holland kicked off his run on the 2-1 favourite Polish Baron in the Henry Boot Claiming Stakes before following up on Look Here Now (9-2 favourite) in the Lombard Classified Stakes.

He rounded off his three-timer with a success on Charge (10-1) in the ECA & Edmundson Electrical Handicap.

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