SCOTMAIL LAD is fancied to post his first victory of the season at Sedgefield this afternoon.

As his form figures suggest, George Moore's consistent but luckless gelding has hit both uprights and the crossbar this term.

Today should be a different story in the Chilton Handicap Chase, an event that represents a significant drop in grade for the seven-year-old.

On his last two starts Scotmail Lad (2.50) has run up against the useful Man On The Hill, both here when runner-up over track and trip in November, and more recently at Haydock, where he finished a fair fourth to the same horse in much better company.

Admittedly the £5,000 contest is not exactly an open goal for Scotmail Lad, more like being put though with only the "keeper" to beat taking into account the presence of the main danger, previous course winner Wayward Buttons.

With all due to respect to their connections, there are some real slow coaches engaged in the Middlesbrough Maiden Chase due to be run over a stamina-sapping three-miles-and-three-furlongs.

Perhaps the exception is Tony Dobbin's mount, Mr Pistachio (1.20).

At six years of age the Kelly Marks-trained southern raider still has time to make his mark over fences, especially in the light of a promising second to Tied For Time, albeit in a Hunter Chase at Aintree over 200 days ago.

In the following Dickie Dods Memorial Handicap Hurdle over a similar marathon distance, Stone Cold (1.50) is a topical tip.

With temperatures not far above zero, on all known evidence Stone Cold (1.50) should have the class to freeze out his rivals.

Tim Easterby's four-year-old looks in a different league to his rivals provided he reproduces the form of his latest second placing to Lady Of The Lamp at Haydock.

Fontwell stage the day's most valuable jump race, the £10,000 Tote Credit Club Hurdle.

The tricky figure-of-eight configuration catches a lot of individuals out, not so top-weight Rudi Knight, successful at the Sussex venue off a mark 29lb lower back in January.

That sort of hike in the weights is pretty daunting, so preference is for Adelphi Theatre (2.30), beaten only by the classy El Viejo at Ascot last time out.

Les Eyre's stable has been worth following of late and two of his successful sand horses, Bawsian (2.10) and Amaranth (2.40) are in action at Wolverhampton.

The diminutive Bawsian is a proper little terrier who pulled out all of the stops to nail Calldat Seventeen right on the wire at the track over 12 furlongs ten days ago.

I've got a feeling he'll be even more effective over an extra two furlongs in the 2.10, a race in which High Policy goes for a four-timer.

Amaranth's latest win was achieved on the polytrack at Lingfield, a surface that undoubtedly rides plenty faster than the fibresand he encounters.

Rather than being a disadvantage, Amaranth may well improve as a result of switching to ground with more give underfoot.

Leave the nap to Reg Hollinshead's Miss C, who with the benefit of the inside rail, return to the minimum trip, plus a generous slice of handicapping, must go very close in the five furlong Nursery at 1.10.

l Former jockey Geoff Harker rejoined the training ranks a month ago and sent out his first winner at Ayr yesterday.

Idalgo De Guye also gave the gelding's owner - Lord Bolton's son Ben Orde-Powlett, 20 - his first success under Rules in the George Graham Memorial Chase (Showcase Handicap).

Idalgo De Guye ran well behind the smart Direct Access at Carlisle 11 days ago and he improved on that effort to win in convincing fashion, jumping well throughout and drawing six lengths clear of Flat Top after taking up the running at the second last fence.

Middleham-based Harker trained under a permit two seasons ago when he saddled one winner, but he explained: ''The horses I had had leg problems. I took out a full licence on November 14 and I have eleven horses in at present.

''I met Harry (Lord Bolton) when Ferdy Murphy had horses at Bolton and everything is down to him really."