GRAHAM LEE makes a quick-fire return to the saddle at Newcastle thanks to some invaluable help from Middlesborough Football Club's backroom staff.

Lee, who took a crashing fall at Catterick last week, regularly consults Boro's first team fitness guru, Chris Barnes, seeking the right regime to ensure rapid healing from the inevitable injuries incurred by the rigours of jump racing.

Lee's booking for Haditovski (2.20) is of especial interest since the gelding could go off a decent starting price having thrown in the towel last time out at Wetherby.

For my money it's possible to forgive that dismal effort, principally on account of Haditovski simply being outclassed in a red-hot 0-130 contest won by the handicap "good thing", Town Crier.

By way of direct contest his handler, John Mackie, has come right down in grade with the ten-year-old for the 0-105 Guinness Handicap Hurdle, a relatively low-key race which should suit Lee and partner to perfection.

The finishers in three-mile Miller Homes Handicap Chase might need the wind behind such is the severity of the testing ground and uphill run to the line.

Let's face it none of the modest bunch are going to be in top gear during the final four furlongs, but one that might still be standing and in contention is recent Ayr second, Moon Mist (1.50).

The eight-year-old grey clearly has a liking for Scottish air having galloped her rivals into abject submission when collecting over fences at the course just under a year ago.

There's no real reason why Moon Mist shouldn't be equally effective at today's Tyneside venue, although I wouldn't be having my life-savings on the mare, more like a fiver just for a bit of fun.

Lucinda Russell's stable couldn't win a donkey derby on Blackpool beach before Christmas, a state of affairs that happily took a turn for the better once the new year kicked off.

With her fortunes currently very much in the ascendancy, Russell's Albertino Lad (3.20) looks a likely candidate for the Saltwell Signs Handicap Chase.

The selection rattled the crossbar on his latest foray on a visit to Wetherby, chasing home the 20-1 shock scorer, Vigoureux, with only one length separating the pair as they slugged it out in conditions almost identical to those Albertino Lad will encounter this afternoon.

The fact Kevin Ryan is bothering to trudge all the way to Lingfield from his North Yorkshire stronghold with Fanghorn Forest (2.40) speaks volumes for the prospects of his three-year-old.

Ryan's raider, already a winner on turf, went within an ace of nabbing an inaugural all-weather success when narrowly denied by Jamie Osborne's Drawback in a nip-and-tuck duel at Wolverhampton.

It was a really game run by the filly, who having appeared cooked 250 metres out, fought back in tenacious fashion and was closing the gap hand-over-fist as they flashed past the post in near unison.

In the closing Apprentice Handicap, Lenoir (4.10) should be in his element over the one mile distance.

Lenoir ran out of puff when trying two furlongs further at the course last time out, however trainer Vince Smith has taken the hint and with Lenoir now operating over his optimum trip, get ready to make the bookmakers pay.

* Francois Doumen has revealed former champion stayer Baracouda could be joined by stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on March 16.The trio are part of a five-strong French raiding party in the Cheltenham contest for which 50 entries were announced yesterday.

And Baracouda, winner of the three-mile highlight in 2002 and 2003, is set to head straight to the Festival without being seen on the track since November.

''So far things are going all right and the horse is in very good form,'' said Doumen.

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