HAVING missed the whole of last season through injury, Carlisle-bound Silver Knight (2.25) is now happily on the comeback trail.

Tim Easterby's talented staying chaser enjoyed a profitable 2003/2004 campaign when not once out of the frame in nine starts, superb consistency that included a brace of well-deserved three-mile victories.

Very few National Hunt horses go through their career without a spell on the sidelines and the fact Silver Knight was off the park for so long doesn't seem to have affected his ability, judged by a recent third placing at Wetherby.

Since returning, Easterby hasn't been in a hurry with his seven-year-old but the time has come to let off the handbrake and if all goes well the £12,000 Ashleybank Investments Handicap is potentially there for the taking.

Seeing as Top Style (3.00) loves the mud, he should he in his element for the C.F.M. Handicap Hurdle.

As a result of the mixture of wet and cold weather, it's going to be a good old-fashioned glue-pot at the Cumbrian track, conditions ideal for Top Style, who although not quick, keeps plugging away when others have cried enough.

Len Lungo's outstanding record at the course bodes positively for the prospects of Jolika (3.30) in the Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

Rather in the mode of Top Style, Jolika is simply a grinder, she doesn't light up the world with blinding speed yet is able to maintain a steady gallop even in the face of today's mountain-like climb to the winning post.

Evidence of the eight-year-old mare's tenacity was eminently visible at Hexham three weeks ago, a race in which she only gave best to The Names Bond during the closing couple of furlongs.

Chris Bealby appears to have found an ideal opportunity for Eskimo Pie (2.35) to get off the mark over fences.

Bealby does well on his visits to Uttoxeter, a hint well worth bearing in mind for the Holland Finner Beginners Chase, in which Eskimo Pie (2.35) seems sure to play a leading role.

Quite highly rated in the 120s over hurdles, Eskimo Pie made a satisfactory chasing debut at Newcastle, where he chased home another fairly good ex-hurdler, Wild Cane Ridge.

The selection did nothing wrong on that occasion, it was more a case of getting tired following a 30-week absence from action.

He'll be far fitter for the run and is expected to hit bulls-eye at only the second time of asking over the bigger obstacles.

A shortage of water around the west-country is reflected in the going at Taunton, which is like lightning considering winter is upon us.

Not many jumpers relish fast ground but a notable exception is the Charlie Mann-trained Lambourn raider Mick Divine (2.50), who loves to hear his hooves rattle.

He palpably didn't have the pace to cope with the principals over two-and-a-half-miles last time out, which leads me to believe this afternoon's seven-furlong step up in trip could be the answer to his problems.

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