BARNBURGH BOY can celebrate his return to hurdles by winning the Tote Credit Club Showcase Handicap at Sedgefield today.

Although Tim Easterby's runner has yet to finish out of the first four over fences this term, he has not been jumping his obstacles with any particular fluency.

A brief switch back to timber is often the confidence-booster required in these situations, and it will not have escaped his shrewd trainer's eye that Barnburgh Boy (3.20) is marginally lower in the hurdles rating, compared to his chasing mark.

Given that Barnburgh Boy is undeniably well-handicapped, combined with other factors such as his liking both for soft ground and this afternoon's favourable trip of two-miles-and-one-furlong, he should acquit himself with credit.

It'll be hard for punters to get off to a profitable start in the opening Levy Board Novices' Handicap with so many closely-matched rivals going to post.

One valuable pointer may emerge from any signs of the big hitters in the betting ring getting stuck into Jonjo O'Neill's Iwanowo (1.50).

The selection has put in a couple of promising performances, notably at Newcastle last time out where he made stealthy late headway to finish third to the potentially high-class Dibea Times.

You'll not make a fortune backing Minioso (3.50) in the EBF Mares' Only Novices' Chase since she's likely to start a very short price.

But there's no gain to be had by opposing what appears to be the proverbial "good thing", a category Minioso definitely falls into having run the useful Monarchs Pursuit to three-quarters of a length at Catterick eleven days ago.

Last Try (4.20), runner-up on all three of his most recent appearances, deserves to go one better in the Jack Britton Memorial Chase.

He's a previous track and trip scorer, who jumps with pinpoint accuracy and is not averse to making the running in an event where there's no obvious pacemaker.

Off Hire (3.00) is fancied to continue his love affair with Wolverhampton by obliging in division two of the five-furlong Arena Leisure Handicap.

The Charles Smith-trained sprinter made two successful forays to the course last season, recording the second of his two victories off a mark of 54.

Off Hire has now slipped back to 51, reviving his chances considerably, especially as the stable's horses are just beginning show signs of breaking out of an unwelcome spell in the doldrums.

Graham Gibbons takes a handy 7lb off the back of Santandre (4.30), poised to add to an already impressive track tally in the Barbie's Birthday Handicap.

The still-improving five-year-old is bidding to notch a fourth career win at Wolverhampton over his optimum trip of an extended mile.

One word of caution - Gibbons will need to be mindful of not hitting the front too soon because his mount has shown an unnerving tendency to idle in the closing stages.

l Paul Nicholls could run his improving stayer Murt's Man in the Tote Northern National at Newcastle on Saturday, for which there are 20 entries at the five-day stage.

The seven-year-old opened his account for the season at Wincanton last month in the hands of Andrew Thornton.

Nicholls said: ''If Andy Thornton is free then we might run Murt's Man at Newcastle. He wouldn't mind heavy ground. It was pretty soft when he won at Wincanton.''

Last year's first and second, Scotton Green and Ackzo, who were separated by a neck 12 months ago, are entered again.

Ackzo's trainer Ferdy Murphy has three other entries. They are Narrow Water, Paddy's Return and Streamstown.

Henry Daly has put his 1999 Welsh National winner Edmond in Saturday's four-mile-one-furlong test.

Other interesting entries are Seven Towers, and Oliver Sherwood's Him Of Praise.