RELIABLE Ready To Rumble (2.00) looks a rock-solid each-way option for the Arrow Novices' Handicap Chase at Ludlow.

Brancepeth-based Richard Guest doesn't normally bother sending his horses on such a long trek from the North-East unless he thinks the travelling worthwhile, a factor that represents a tip in itself for the consistent eight-year-old.

Ready To Rumble has found the frame on both of his last two starts, most recently on a visit to Hexham, where he had little chance against Len Lungo's Corrib Lad, a future star over fences in the making.

There doesn't appear to be anything of Corrib Lad's quality in today's line-up, which must bode well for the selection since on all known evidence he does seem to hold every chance in what is a relatively soft target.

A similar win and place betting strategy is recommended on the stable's other runner at the meeting, Tipsy Mouse (3.00).

Generally speaking Guest's inmates are taught to jump for fun, therefore it came as a bit of a shock when Tipsy Mouse came to grief at Kelso last week with a catastrophic blunder in failing to accurately measure the ninth obstacle.

On his previous outing, Tipsy Mouse sneaked into the frame on a trip to Southwell and a reproduction of that form should ensure the same type of outcome this afternoon, especially as the gelding is currently 13lbs lower than at this time last year.

Another trainer from our region seeking success on unfamiliar territory is Sheriff Hutton's Mick Easterby, who despatches Handa Island (1.10) 300 miles south to Taunton in Somerset.

Having hit the mid-70s yet still churning out winners, Easterby has every right to expect Handa Island to be in the money after the four-year-old finished third in a better-grade Market Rasen non-selling handicap 39 days ago.

Underrated apprentice Chris Cavanagh rode a peach of a race by producing African Sahara (2.20) very late on the scene to pinch a competitive event at Wolverhampton last month.

Cavanagh, who is able to take an invaluable 7lbs off African Sahara's back, is not surprisingly back in the driving seat for Lingfield's one-mile Betfred Freephone Handicap.

The only other piece of the jigsaw to fit revolves around the switch from the Midlands to Surrey, which should not present any problems seeing as African Sahara twice did the business over course and distance during 2004.

Although Cavanagh also has a ride in the closing Text Apprentices Handicap aboard Bucks, preference goes to Michael Stainton's mount, Desert Island Disc (3.50).

Desert Island Disc has been taking on some decent animals of late, none more so than when taking third spot behind John Gosden's smart stayer, Indian Pipe Dream, at Newmarket recently.

The merit of that effort reads superbly in the context of the task he faces in the mile-and-five-furlong contest, which is indisputably a far less taxing test of his ability.

* Grey Abbey is having a break before bidding for back-to-back victories in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham in January.

The 11-year-old has been given a holiday following problems with his glands after being pulled up in the Charlie Hall Chase last month.

Trainer Howard Johnson said: ''His glands were up so he'll have a break.''

Grey Abbey won a Grade Two contest at Wetherby the previous October before going straight on to the Pillar.