FOLLOWERS of Simon Sherwood's stable should consider tuning into Medium Wave (3.10) for this afternoon's Racing Channel Handicap Chase at Ludlow.

Sherwood's raider is trying three-miles for the first time, although based on all previous evidence the new trip ought not to present any particular problems.

Medium Wave has also shown a liking for Ludlow in the past, having already won at the track over timber and been placed over fences during the course of last season.

The meeting gets under way with a massively competitive 20-runner Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

The principals in the betting are likely to include recent Stratford scorer Spontaneity, plus veteran campaigner High Low (1.10).

The latter must be near to retirement after a long and distinguished career, but I still reckon he's capable of whipping the hides of some of his much younger rivals in this lowly grade.

David Gandolfo's horses are on fire, setting up the possibility of a double via Khatani (1.40) and Welsh Padre (2.10).

Khatani has been in dominant form over hurdles, winning four in a row prior to an excellent fourth in hot company at Cheltenham.

The decision to make an early switch to the bigger obstacles is somewhat unconventional, but nevertheless a risk worth taking in the Telewest Novices' Chase.

A reproduction of Welsh Padre's second to Tall Story at Hereford could easily prove good enough to claim the EBF Novices Hurdle, S'assagir and Oxidor may give him most to do.

Further south at Taunton ex-Irish point-to-point winner Castle Prince (1.00) has a decent opportunity to open his British account.

The Ron Hodges-trained six-year-old got stuck in the mud when failing to oblige for favourite backers at Plumpton. Today's better ground and the move from hurdles to fences might, however, make all the difference in the opening Peter Joliffe Novices' Handicap Chase.

Taunton's tight right-hand configuration suits Rollcall (3.30), fancied to collect the Ilminster Handicap in the hands of Robert Walford.

Lingfield's busy eight-race programme begins with an interesting Apprentice Handicap in which the weights are headed by Secret Spring.

He has a very stiff task and preference is just for Resplendent Star (12.20), unsuited by the bog-like conditions at York on his latest start.

Previous course winner Pat The Builder (1.20) has sufficient early speed to make every post a winning one in the Golf Leisure Selling Stakes.

Nick Littmoden is always worth following on the sand, a theory likely to be confirmed by Top Of The Parkes (2.20), albeit at a miserly price, in the Christmas Parties Maiden Stakes.

l Racing's recent battering from the weather takes a break today when all three of the scheduled meetings look set to take place.

As well as the all-weather meeting at Lingfield, the jumps fixtures at Taunton and Ludlow both report no problems.

Yesterday's action consisted of just a meeting at Newbury, with fixtures at Kelso and Folkestone falling to waterlogging.

But hopes are high that racing can take place at two of the Northern Racing-owned tracks, Newcastle and Uttoxeter, this week.

Newcastle, where a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, is raceable although the going is heavy.