IMPROVING Ungaro (2.40) has conditions to suit in the Betfred Poker Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield this afternoon.

Keith Reveley doesn't send too many of his up-and-coming young stars to the track, but it's a case of striking while the iron is hot with the progressive six-year-old, an impressive winner at Huntingdon six days ago.

Ungaro promised plenty without actually delivering the goods last season, but he left his woes well behind when scorching to the above-mentioned reappearance triumph, a silky-smooth victory achieved in a particularly fast time.

There's not a great deal of strength-in-depth for division two of the John Smith's Extra Smooth Novices Hurdle, a race in which Charlie Tango (1.40) holds a leading chance.

Charlie Tango was far from disgraced when fourth in an above-average event on his sole outing to date over hurdles at Catterick. He was with Nigel Tinkler in those days, prior to being switched to David Thompson's stables at Bolam, near Darlington.

Thompson's latest recruit is by no means a world-beater, but the gelding at least has his heart in the right place and did little wrong when sneaking into the frame on a recent visit to Redcar.

The Arthur Stephenson Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the SIS Maiden Chase, a two-mile-five-furlong affair tailor-made for Dead Mans Dante (2.10) to break his duck over steeplechase obstacles.

Boasting five winners during the past 15 days, Ferdy Murphy's yard really is firing on all cylinders. Despite the fact that Dead Mans Dante has yet to join in the fun, he's normally a sound jumper and his overall profile stacks up favourably in the context of today's weak race.

Although Murphy might also be in the place money via Green Ideal for the later betfred.com Handicap Chase, marginal preference as far as first-past-the-post is concerned goes to fellow Wensleydale raider, Mexican (3.10).

Trainer Micky Hammond took Mexican to Southwell on Saturday, presumably with a view to opening the six-year-old's airways after a long summer of recuperation out in the paddocks.

The early betting exchanges could easily be the best indicator as to the merit of Hammond's canny Southwell ploy, so if Mexican does attract market support the advice is to follow the cash.

Top bet on Southwell's Flat card is without doubt Joey (1.50), a late-maturing type with the potential to collect at a decent price in the 1-mile Betdirect Banded Stakes.

Reg Hollinshead's filly showed she was going the right way by twice making the frame in arguably much better class turf contests on successive visits to Chester and Nottingham.

As a rule of thumb signs of ability registered on grass are superior to fibre-sand efforts, and seeing as she likes to front run, her handy low draw in stall two can only be described as a major positive.

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