HARD LUCK stories are two-a-penny in the world of horse racing. Some have more than a ring of truth, while others hail straight from the realms of fantasy.

But in the case of Haydock-bound Just Lizzie (2.00), there's no denying she's not had the rub of the green so far this season.

Perhaps her greatest misfortune came at Wetherby in early December, where she powered into the lead at the third last flight only to toss away almost certain victory with a calamitous blunder at the very next hurdle.

Purists would also argue that Just Lizzie was a little unfortunate to come up against the supremely well-handicapped Luzcadou at Newcastle just before Christmas.

At the Tyneside track Luzcadou's trainer Micky Hammond took full advantage of the fact that his charge was rated some 30lb lower over hurdles compared to his lofty chase rating of 145.

Opportunities for Just Lizzie to gain compensation have been few and far between lately because of the spate of abandoned meetings, but the Willow Handicap Hurdle over two miles in soft ground provides a potentially suitable opening for the eight-year-old mare to finally get her just reward.

In the preceding New Year Handicap Chase, Hugo de Grez (1.30) makes plenty of appeal.

He proved his ability to handle Haydock's towering fences when chasing home Lady Of Gortmerron at the course in November.

There's plenty of strength-in-depth among his eight rivals, including the talented ex-French pair Goguenard and Hescondido. At least Andrew Parker's representative has youth on his side, being the youngest horse in the line-up at just six years of age.

Punters seeking to get off to a flyer at Uttoxeter could do worse than side with Saint Ciel (1.05).

Frank Jordan's enigmatic gelding often reserves his best for the popular Staffordshire venue. And the guaranteed testing conditions certainly won't be a problem to the 13-year-old veteran, well-known for revelling in the mud.

Few National Hunt pilots have the skill of Sedgefield-born Andrew Thornton when it comes to negotiating the sort of tricky obstacles to be found at Uttoxeter.

He partners the versatile Young Spartacus (3.10) for Henry Daly in the Stanley Handicap Chase. Thornton's mount kicked off his campaign with a sparkling success over timber at Chepstow, before running perfectly respectably when reverting to fences and finishing third over three miles at Kelso.

Daly's decision to switch Young Spartacus a half-mile back in trip undoubtedly makes sense as the petrol gauge appeared to be registering on empty towards the end of the Scottish contest.

Milder temperatures at Lingfield should ensure there will be no repeat of last Saturday's fiasco when the fixture was called off five minutes before the first race as a result of a frozen track.

Assiduous equitrack fans might well consider firmly lacing up their betting boots in order to lump on Monash Lady (1.25) for the Freshwater Claiming Stakes.

She re-opposes the top-weight Academic Record on 8lb better terms for the neck which divided the pair when they were first and second respectively in a similar event back in November.

Stan Moore's filly also showed she was still on the upgrade when runner-up to the fast-improving Saafend Rocket nine days ago, whereas Academic Record found little once off the bridle when soundly beaten into fourth spot at Wolverhampton on his latest start.

Opposing the in-form Sir Mark Prescott stable is pure folly at present with the majority of his string running out of their skins.

City Player romped to an easy success at Southwell, despite being eased right down inside the final 100 yards by jockey Joe Fanning.

Fanning again climbs aboard City Player (2.55) in the Trackside Carvery Stakes, a ride which promises to be little more than a steering job from his favoured inside berth.

Patrick Haslam's traditional winter assault on the all-weather programme is gathering momentum with each week.

At Wolverhampton's evening card Haslam whips out Thursday's impressive Southwell scorer Captain Kozando (8.30) for the Season To Be Jolly Handicap.

The selection, a good quartered son of the brilliant sand sire Komaite, should not mind the step up to seven furlongs, a distance which promises to bring about even more improvement.

The stable's winning streak will probably not stop there either because Bustling Rio (9.30) has a cracking chance of completing a double in the closing two-miler.

Bustling Rio, unbeaten in two outings over hurdles, is equally effective on the level, demonstrating the sort of zest for competition every hungry trainer dreams of