CONSISTENT Kitski (3.10) heads to Market Rasen with a great chance of maintaining trainer Ferdy Murphy's excellent run of form.

Murphy's horses can do little wrong at present and Kitski isn't going to miss out on the stable's winning streak judged on his encouraging comeback at Carlisle last month.

Murphy's seven-year-old travelled supremely well for a long way at the Cumbrian course but hit the dreaded wall on the cruel uphill climb to the winning post and had no more to give.

Jockey Keith Mercer reported that Kitski jumped in exemplary fashion for a novice which, combined with the fact the gelding is going be a whole lot fitter for the spin, must auger positively for the combination's prospects.

In the hope of striking an early blow against the bookies, a small each-way investment on Upswing (12.40) is recommended for the opening Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

Nestling nicely down among the lower end of the handicap, Upswing will appreciate today's primarily flat track having failed to find much off the bridle at Hexham last time out.

The Richard Guest-trained gelding doesn't like to be bashed about and with Caroline Metcalfe sure to have donned her kid gloves for the ride, an improved showing is expected.

Hereford kicks off with an Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase in which Anflora (12.50) holds outstanding claims.

She's a proper little terrier, pestering Up The Pub all the way to the line when a close-up second in a thrilling Chepstow tussle a fortnight ago. Using that evidence as a yardstick, Alflora is nailed on to make the frame at the very least.

Despite having to give weight to her 12 rivals, Dalida (2.20) might still have the necessary reserves to repel all raiders.

According to my calculations Dalida (2.20) ran 15lbs below her best when failing to justify favouritism at Sedgefield in October. No horse should be condemned for one lousy performance, especially a filly such as Dalida, who has taken a considerable amount of time to get used to the hurly-burly of jump racing.

Previous to her latest miserable run the selection had trounced some more highly-rated opponents on a visit to Perth, a victory she totally deserved having knocked on the door more than one once during the autumn.

Brendan Powell was bullish about his star chaser Big Rob (1.30) at the start of the season but he's had to eat humble pie as the Wincanton-bound six-year-old has twice hit the deck.

In a confidence-rebuilding exercise, Powell sends Big Rob back over hurdles for the South West Racing Club Hurdle, a two-mile-six-furlong contest which he should win easily if the BHB ratings are to be believed.

While there's no such thing as a certainty, Big Rob's current chasing mark stands at 121, whereas this afternoon he's able to race off 92, a mind-boggling 29lbs lower in the weights over the smaller obstacles.