ROUTE SIXTY SIX might well find herself on the road to riches in today's most valuable race, the £12,000 Showcase Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon.

The five-year-old mare provided rookie trainer Jedd O'Keeffe with his first winner at Musselburgh this year and she remains the main flag-bearer of his small Middleham stable.

Route Sixty Six (1.30) side-stepped an entry at Hexham on Wednesday to take her place at the track where she made her seasonal reappearance over jumps ten days ago.

On that occasion she finished third, beaten less than two lengths by March North. In this afternoon's smaller field there is likely to be a muddling pace, which could well suit Route Sixty Six, whose main weapon is her ability to quicken in the final couple of furlongs.

Mary Reveley's yard is not only firing on all cylinders, the stable also has an excellent record at the course.

It might therefore be prudent to side with Free (12.30) in the opening claiming hurdle, despite the fact he is a rather quirky character, given to throwing in the odd bad run.

For potential backers of Free, at least he is coming into the event on the back of a battling victory at Catterick, albeit in a very weaklycontested affair.

Damien's Choice (3.00) is on quite a roll at present now that he's got his jumping act together.

Shrewd placing by Ferdy Murphy means Damien's Choice has been able to take full advantage of a lenient rating over fences, knocking in back-to-back wins at Sedgefield and Catterick.

Admittedly Damien's Choice now has to take on slightly stronger opposition in the Exoplan Conditional Handicap Chase, however the services of the excellent 3lbs claimer, Howie Ephgrave, should enable the selection to complete a well-deserved hat-trick.

Little fish are sweet and should Reiziger (1.10) land the odds as expected at Ludlow, it will give his hard-working Somerset handler, Philip Hobbs, almost as much pleasure as recent big-race success with both What's Up Boys and Flagship Uberalles.

With little of any note in the line-up for the Party Season Novices' Chase, Robert Widger is primed for an armchair ride aboard Reiziger, who is clearly a cut above his ten rivals.

Keen-running Ghutah (2.40) simply did not get the trip when tried over 19 furlongs at Exeter last week.

Sensibly switched back to two miles and on a much sharper track for the Shropshire Building Handicap Hurdle, Ghutah might just oblige at odds of 10-1 or better.

A smart ex-Flat performer, Duke Of Modena (12.50), makes his debut over timber for Toby Balding in the opening Novices' Hurdles at Taunton and looks as to possess the size and scope to succeed in National Hunt arena.