EACH-WAY backers could do much worse than get involved with 16-1 shot Granit d'Estruval (3.00) in the day's most valuable race, the £75,000 totesport Classic Chase.

The Warwick marathon has attracted some leading staying stars, including Martin Pipe's recent Cheltenham winner Joacci, who despite being relatively under-exposed is still a ludicrously short-priced ante-post favourite at around 2-1.

Only die-hard Pipe fans would indulge at those crazy odds, certainly not avid followers of this column which, when it comes to tests of stamina, generally speaking nails its colours to mast of Ferdy Murphy's stable.

Murphy placed Granit d'Estruval to win the 2004 Irish Grand National, a masterly piece of training by the Wensleydale wizard, who then fearlessly despatched the gelding to compete in the Scottish equivalent just five days later.

In view of the fact the selection had a hard race at Fairyhouse, one or two members of the press politely suggested Ferdy was off his rocker returning to the well so soon after what was a famous victory.

As things turned out nothing could have been further from the truth since Granit d'Estruval arrived at Ayr bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, foiled only by a final fence fall when travelling upsides the eventual winner, Grey Abbey.

Sadly their respective careers then went in opposite directions, Grey Abbey going on to become one of last year's top chasers while Murphy's star struggled until hinting he was on the way back with a solid sixth spot in the Welsh Grand National.

There'll be plenty of interest surrounding Gold Cup hope Iris's Gift in the £20,000 Novices' Chase but, like Joacci, he's another potential banana skin as far as habitual favourite-backers are concerned.

Although there's no cribbing the brilliant hurdling record of Iris's Gift, he's been far from convincing over the bigger obstacles, dark doubts which were further deepened by a clumsy fall during a public schooling session at Haydock last Saturday.

With his confidence possibly in tatters, it may prove wise to give Iris's Gift a swerve and side instead with Sue Smith's equine giant Rebel Rhythm (3.30), a wide-margin winner of his latest start on a visit to Wetherby.

Kempton are in the process of building an all-weather circuit, which means the Lanzarote Hurdle is being run at Carlisle.

Never before has the Cumbrian venue seen a £35,000 event run over timber and the money might even stay in the county if Torkinking (2.45) continues to strut his stuff.

Trained at nearby Brampton by Maurice Barnes, Torkinking has won five of his last seven races, latterly streaking 23 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer at Sedgefield.

It does take a giant leap of faith to believe he can cross the divide and make a massive step up in class, though the heavy ground is going to be ideal. Combined with his aggressive pace-setting run-style, this could be the key to bagging first prize.

Another individual likely to adopt front-running tactics is Birdwatch (3.15), never headed when putting the opposition to the sword at Ayr 11 days ago.

The application of blinkers has totally transformed Keith Reveley's eight-year-old, currently riding on the crest of a wave having won two from three and remaining at the right end of the weights from an investment perspective.

The winter Flat action takes place at Lingfield, where Karl Burke's Boo (2.55) tries for a three-timer in their feature race, the £20,000 betdirect.co.uk Handicap.

Despite hanging quite badly left in the home straight, Boo clocked a very fast time when scoring in decisive fashion on the second of two Wolverhampton triumphs in December.

Burke's fast-improving four-year-old is not the first decent horse to show such quirky tendencies, which, strange as it sounds, is quite often a trademark of inherent ability, rather than a negative trait.

Heather Dalton is rapidly making a name for herself, both over jumps and on the level, a trend upheld by Ronsard (2.25), who produced a turbo-charged burst to collar Bijou Dan last time out.

It has taken time for Ronsard to discover the winning habit but now he knows exactly where the winning line is, further success awaits in the ten-furlong Skytext Handicap.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.