WHITE-KNUCKLE ride Fami (2.10) is fancied to get back on the winning trail in the Sidney Phillips Handicap Chase at Hereford.

Faultless fencing has not always been the strong point of the Venetia Williams-trained chaser, who managed to get rid of his jockey no less than four times last term.

But when Fami does put in a clear round his finishing speed is a major asset. And no doubt Norman Williamson will be prepared for his partner's wayward antics he was up top when the combination prevailed at Fontwell in January.

Robert Thornton, seen to such terrific effect when galvanising Male-Ana-Mou for a last-gasp success at Newbury on Saturday, could find himself back in the winners' enclosure aboard Top Buck (12.40) in the first on the card, the Wildemarsh Novices' Hurdle.

Kim Bailey's charge ran a blinder on his reappearance at Wincanton when beaten a neck by the highly-regarded Silver Lake, and is certain to have improved fitness-wise for the outing.

In an 18-runner field which represents quantity rather than quality, Top Buck appears to have a relatively simple task provided he stays out of trouble.

Further rain could jeopardise the prospects of racing at Newton Abbot, but even if it stays dry conditions are bound to be extremely testing.

Whatever the weather it won't matter one jot how boggy the ground gets for Mark Pitman's mudlark Ardfinnan (1.30), who threw away a winning opportunity at Aintree with a series of sloppy leaps. If he manages to jump with a little more fluency, the Great Expectations Novices' Chase is well within his compass.

Double Splendour (11.50) can get sand addicts off to a winning start by taking the opening one-mile handicap at Lingfield.

Despite the fact that Paul Felgate's veteran Flat racer has yet to score at the trip, he was going on nicely enough at the finish over seven furlongs recently to suggest the extra 220 yards will suit.

I reckon Sharvie (12.20) is ready to open his account in division one of the Race Sponsorship Handicap.

He showed his first real signs of form when third to Penalta at Wolverhampton, and the booking of the vastly-underrated 7lb apprentice Chris Catlin puts the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.