GRAND NATIONAL winning trainer Norman Mason doesn't have too many winners on the summer jumping circuit but Night Fighter (3.45) could prove the exception at Southwell today.

At this time of year most of Norman's horses are turned out to grass for a well-deserved rest at his magnificent training establishment above Brancepeth village west of Durham.

But he does keep the odd fast ground performer ticking over and Night Fighter, bottom-weight in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Hurdle, has proved in the past that he can handle most types of going.

The seven-year-old gelding also seems to go well when fresh, so his supporters shouldn't be over worried about the selection's 51-day absence from the fray.

Nor should there be doubt about Night Fighter's ability considering the embarrassing ease with which he scored over two-miles-and-a-furlong at Towcester last October.

Today's contest is of far higher standard, although that is largely offset by his featherweight and assured hurdling, a much-needed skill over Southwell's stiff "French style" obstacles.

For the nap I'm relying on the game and genuine Rebelle (4.30), who carries plenty of confidence in a race full of mainly no-hopers in the August Bank Holiday Handicap at Folkestone.

As far as the action in our region is concerned Thirsk put on a bumper six-race evening card in which the numbers have inevitably been swelled by the unfortunate abandonment of Redcar's two-day weekend fixture.

Big fields all rather smack of a bookmakers' benefit and in an attempt to land an early blow for the punters a bob-or-two on Cats Whisker's (6.30) is recommended. Mick Easterby's miler has been in sparkling form of late winning two of his last three starts. Dale Gibson has been in the saddle for both victories and I fully expect the combination to prevail from their advantageous low draw in stall three.

Former leading jump jockey, now turned trainer, Peter Niven, sends out his first runner, Flash Of Memory, in the two-mile Black Sheep Handicap.

Niven has set up camp just outside Malton and as much as the locals would like to see his new career take off with a winner I cannot imagine Flash Of Memory will be good enough in such a hugely-competitive affair. Of the 24 contestants going to post the one I'm interested in is Westernmost (8.00).

Since leaving David Barron and being switched to the sticks by Martin Todhunter he seems to have gained a new lease of life, taking a novices' hurdle at Cartmel in the style of an improving horse.

Now back on the level and running off an incredibly lenient handicap mark, the son of Most Welcome could easily add Flat success to that recently gained over jumps.

Sprint fiends will doubtless get stuck into the closing five-furlong Weatherbys Printing Services Handicap. Finding the winner is an unenviable task, but Kevin Darley's mount, Matty Tun (8.30), makes more appeal than most.

* Yavana's Pace landed his first Group One race when Mark Johnston's 10-year-old took the Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal at Cologne.

Keith Dalgleish sent Yavana's Pace straight into the lead as Pat Eddery held Millenary up on the inside in fourth place with the winner's stable companion Sir George Turner bringing up the rear.

The leader quickened the pace down the back and as they turned for home most of the gelding's rivals were in trouble.

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