KING'S REVENGE (1.50) makes a belated bid to kick-start his career by taking the long trip from Great Habton to Lingfield for the one-mile betdirect.co.uk Nursery.

Tim Easterby's two-year-old began brightly enough in the springtime, twice finishing second when contesting competitive maiden sprint events at Newcastle and Carlisle.

He was then given a long rest during the summer, prior to a lack-lustre performance in Redcar's six-furlong Two-Year-Old Trophy, a race in which he finished nearer last than first.

Far from dispirited, Tim immediately sent King's Revenge back into battle over a slightly longer distance at Catterick.

It was a smart move which resulted in an improved showing to fill third spot.

Despite not being disgraced on that occasion, in all probability the rain-sodden turf didn't help the son of Wizard King and today's return to a far quicker surface should be totally in his favour.

It's a fact that the polytrack equates to good to firm going, underfoot conditions which should suit the selection admirably, especially as the pick of his earlier efforts were achieved on fast ground.

Fellow long-distance North Yorkshire raider, Platinum Charger, who ended the turf season on a high note at Musselburgh, tries for the double in the Betdirect Amateur Riders Handicap.

Platinum Charmer (3.50) has bagged no less than six staying handicaps throughout the course of 2005.

He goes particularly well for an inexperienced jockey, and he comes from a yard enjoying a fantastic campaign.

The dreaded kickback at Southwell has been causing a few problems of late.

However, one horse coping better than most is two-time track winner, Brave Chief (3.10).

Roy Bowring's three-year-old was simply never travelling when failing to justify his position at the head of the betting market on a recent visit to Wolverhampton.

But now he's back on fibre-sand it could well be a totally different story.

Fakenham stage the sole National Hunt meeting of the day in which Unleash and Goblet of Fire seem set to dominate the feature race on the card, the £11,000 Macmillan Cancer Relief Novices Chase.

The pair, both rated in the mid-130s over hurdles, are theoretically evenly matched at the weights using the official figures as a guide.

As far as experience goes, Unleash (3.00) has the edge after finishing third on his chasing debut at Wincanton.

On the other hand, Goblet Of Fire has yet to jump a fence in public, which is not necessarily a huge disadvantage since he's sure to have been well-schooled by his perfectionist trainer, Paul Nicholls.

In such instances it would be unwise to have the week's shopping money on either.

But as far as this quarter is concerned, Unleash just gets the nod on account of the Philip Hobbs' yard being in marginally better heart at present.