LEN LUNGO'S decision to throw Brandy Wine (2.05) in at the deep-end over fences should not go without reward at Bangor.

To date Brandy Wine has been operating exclusively in the hurdling arena, however Lungo's change of tactic means the canny Scottish handler completely bypasses the novices' grade in favour of going straight handicap chasing.

Although it's a most unusual way of doing things, the seven-year-old does not in all fairness possess any natural speed, which can make placing such individuals quite hard in races of any reasonable value.

Lungo's renowned assiduous attention to detail has been all-important in spotting a great opportunity for Brandy Wine, who gets in with a featherweight for the marathon three-and-three-quarter-mile £9,000 Tilston Handicap Chase.

The 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, Truckers Tavern (2.05), spurns the bigger obstacles in favour of the Alfa Aggregate Handicap Hurdle.

Truckers Tavern left Ferdy Murphy at the end of last season and is now having his first spin for new trainer, Sue Smith, after a long absence from action of 271-days

It was a curious switch since Ferdy did nothing wrong with the selection, quite the contrary in fact, scooping nearly thirty grand when the classy gelding won the 2004 Rowland Meyrick Chase off a mark of 143 at Wetherby.

Whatever the owner's reasons, the ten-year-old is chucked in at the weights this afternoon seeing as he's rated 20lbs lower over the smaller obstacles, which even if he's not 100% fit could be enough to ensure victory for the three-mile contest.

Nice-guy Murphy certainly isn't the kind of person to hold any grudges, anyway he'll be otherwise detained on a visit to Newbury where Supreme Developer (2.25) bids to defy top-weight in the Powersolve Electronics Handicap Chase.

Supreme Developer, who notched four seconds plus a win in a two-miler at Newcastle last season, is gradually coming back to form and by all accounts should appreciate the step up in trip to three-and-a-quarter-miles.

In the following EBF National Novices' Hurdle, the erstwhile unbeaten Oscar Park (3.00) attempts to complete a nap hand and make it five-in-a-row.

It's not often this column recommends odds-on shots, but there's the occasional exception to the rule and from what I've seen and heard about Oscar Park he's one of the best young horses currently in training.

John Quinn is trying every trick in the book to get another race out of Fantasy Defender, who travels all the way from Malton to Lingfield in search of first prize for the Play Games Banded Stakes.

Fantasy Defender, earlier successful over Musselburgh's seven furlongs, went within an ace of opening his all-weather account when short-headed by Adobe at Wolverhampton

One thing is for sure, the three-year-old possesses much more scope for improvement than the majority of his ageing rivals, therefore is worth chancing in what looks a very mediocre affair.

ASPELL AT THE DOUBLE

By PA Sport Staff

Leighton Aspell enjoyed a day to remember at Folkestone as he recorded a 254-1 first and last-race double courtesy of Warningcamp and Brumous.

His brace was sparked by the Lady Herries-trained Warningcamp, who scored a 14-1 shock in division one of the Smith & Williamson Novices' Hurdle, upsetting 1-3 favourite and runner-up Siberian Highness.

The Lady Herries-trained winner had two and a half lengths to spare from Alan King's inmate, who came back with a badly swollen knee.

The winner finished a distant fifth at Plumpton on his hurdling debut, but his owner, Lady Sarah Clutton, put the improvement in form down to fitness.

She said: ''It was very soft at Plumpton and I think he just blew up and got very tired. He definitely needed it, because he had been off for such a long time, but at least this proves what we thought - he's a genuine horse.''

Aspell completed a good afternoon when guiding the Oliver Sherwood-trained 16-1 chance Brumous to a seven-length success in the betfredcasino.com Maiden Hurdle.

But there was further disappointment for King when well-backed 11-8 favourite Le Galactico suffered a crashing fall two out and broke a fetlock when going well in the second division of the novices' hurdle.

The race went to the Nicky Henderson-trained In Media Res (4-1), who made it two victories from two starts under 7lb claimer Charlie Studd, the pair notching a four-length success from Eleazar.

''This horse had a bit more left - he wasn't doing a tap in front 1/8until I showed him the whip3/8,'' said the winning jockey, who was earning his eighth victory under Rules.

Andrew Price made the 250-mile journey from Leominster worthwhile as Moscow Gold (7-2) landed the betfredpoker.com Novices' Handicap Chase under Ollie Nelmes.

The eight-year-old was foot-perfect throughout in the two-mile event and accounted for top-weight Wages, who was giving away 26lb.

After the four-length success, Price admitted: ''He shapes like a three-miler at home and he'll probably turn out next week over two and a half miles at Ludlow.

''He had a leg problem, so we had him fired in August 2004, then he had 10 months off, which seems to have done him good. This win will certainly give him a bit of confidence.''

Price's neighbour, Hereford handler Venetia Williams, is in ripe form at present and Sam Thomas had few worries as he booted Lord Olympia (9-4) to an eight-length victory over Vesuve in the Smith & Williamson Beginners' Chase.

The six-year-old, having just his second start over fences in the three-mile one-furlong event, was always going well and jumped to the front two from home.

''He travelled very well the whole way round,'' said Thomas. ''He has improved from his debut at Hereford and he should improve again. He's just a big baby, but he's maturing all the time. I think Venetia will probably find something similar for him next time.''

Magic Of Sydney has not been easy to train, the former decent novice chaser suffering from leg and muscle problems.

Yet Richard Rowe's inmate looked back to his best under Brian Crowley when accounting for Stavordale Lad by an easy two and a half lengths in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase.

Fifth in Newbury's Manadrin Chase two years ago, the Pulborough trainer is tentatively targeting that race again for the nine-year-old.

''We've suffered a lot of disappointment with him. He ran the top-class French Champion Hurdler Le Sauvignon close here three years ago as a novice, giving him 6lb and he was handicapped on that.

''He's had a few niggling problems since, but equine therapist Roger Stack has done a great job to get him right and the owner likes the Mandarin, so we might go there next.''

There were no bids for Zeloso (3-1), the eased-down eight-length winner of the Hagger's New Coat Selling Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old followed up his recent Market Rasen success under a confident ride from 7lb claimer Charlie Post, who hit the front approaching the last on Milton Harris' inmate, before drawing clear of Rocket Bleu.

''He's a grand little horse,'' said Post. ''He's all right in this grade, but let's be honest, it was a very bad race. He's done it really well in the end, though.''

But Martin Pipe's dismal run of form continued as the champion trainer drew a blank from three attempts.

end