WETHERBY'S decision to stage an extra jumping fixture has been rewarded with a bumper turn-out for the seven-race card.

Potentially one of the most exciting contests is the Siemens Handicap Hurdle, with a clutch of in-form horses, including Gipsy Geof, Golden Thunderbolt, and Pertino (3.10) going to post.

All three should be in the shake-up, although distinct preference is for the latter, trained by the reliable Malcolm Jefferson at Malton.

Despite being robbed of his best horse, Dato Star, just prior to Christmas, Jefferson has continued to maintain his traditionally high strike-rate with 26 winners from 151 runners.

Pertino added to that tally at Carlisle on the first of the month with a wire-to-wire success over two-miles-and-one-furlong. He's a really tough cookie and over today's extra three furlongs the progressive six-year-old could be equally difficult to pass.

Useful ex-hurdler Plenty Courage (2.40) attempts to open his account over fences in the Millennium Stand Novices' Chase.

Brian Storey's mount came back from an eleven-week absence to finish third to Premier Drive at Hexham in March, a race in which he forfeited all chance by giving the third last fence an almighty clout.

Provided there is no repeat of that sort of error, Plenty Courage should have the legs of his modest rivals in the extended two-and-a-half-mile event.

National Hunt racing can be a frustrating sport, a point never better illustrated than by In Extremis 11 (4.10), who was absolutely cantering when hitting the deck in the home straight at Carlisle 11 days ago.

George Moore's gelding promises to stay every yard of the three-mile-and-one-furlong Conferences Novices' Handicap Hurdle. All he has to do is stay on his feet!

Firm ground at Folkestone shouldn't bother Yorkshire raider Pop The Cork (3.00) in the five-furlong Classified Stakes.

Richard Whitaker's sprinter makes a rapid reappearance, having put up a promising show when a close fifth at Ripon last Thursday. Pop The Cork isn't travelling all the way from Scarcroft near Leeds to the Kent track just for a day out in the horse-box.

Paul Cole's Siena Star (5.00) has been in great heart on the polytrack at Lingfield, but he's just as effective on turf and has been found another winning opportunity in the Saffie Joseph Handicap.

Jimmy Frost's Bohill Lad (3.20) knows his way around Exeter, having won a decent hurdle race there on March 5.

Today he switches back to the bigger obstacles for the Elizabeth Finn Trust Novices' Chase, a move not expected to inconvenience the versatile eight-year-old.

* Grey Cossack has found a new lease of life since switching stables, and he has his new trainer David Barker dreaming of better things following a decisive success in the Tote Placepot Stakes (Showcase Handicap) at Pontefract, writes TATTENHAM.

The grey gelding was produced to lead at the furlong pole by Fergal Lynch, and he went right through with his effort to score by a length and a quarter from Espada, who was doing his best work in the last furlong.

He joined Barker at the beginning of the year, and the Richmond trainer explained: ''I feel sorry for Mel (Brittain) who had him before. It is amazing how horses find form for no apparent reason when they move.

''The handicapper put him up 8lb for his win at Newcastle and he was right I suppose, but I wouldn't think he will go up much for today.

''We small trainers don't get many horses rated over 80 so it would be nice if we could get him in the Victoria Cup (at Ascot on May 1) off bottom weight. That would be his only summer target and we can dream can't we''?

John Egan gained his second success since his return from a spell in Hong Kong this winter when David Evans's Waterline Dancer made it third time lucky in good style in the Totevision Screen Median Auction Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Explaining the filly's two previous defeats, Evans said: ''She missed the break at Warwick first time out and the ground was too fast for her there next time. It was fast ground today, but it helps that they race uphill.

''She will be better over six furlongs and with a bit of give in the ground, and as she loves her racing she will be running a few times I should think.''

Paul Eddery produced Bond Diamond with a perfectly-timed run to complete a hat-trick in the Ladies In Red Classified Stakes and trainer Bryan Smart intends to raise his sights now.

Smart reasoned: ''This horse has lacked a bit of confidence but he is getting it now so he might nick a decent race - he loves this fast ground.

''Our horses are running well now and the first of our 20 two-year-olds may run at Leicester on Saturday.''

The season's leading apprentice Graham Gibbons took his score to 25 when bringing his guv'nor Reg Hollinshead's Freya Alex with a good run to win the Friendly Service Selling Stakes.