PACE-setting Cordial (1.10) could take some pegging back in Fakenham's opening two-mile Novice Hurdle.

John Quinn's gelding didn't hang around on his Leicester hurdle debut, mixing it with the leaders until a combination of bog-like ground, plus lack of peak fitness took its inevitable toll at the home straight.

In his other life on the flat when with Mark Prescott, Cordial was no slouch over middle distances.

He had a high performance level which entitles him to metamorphose into a decent National Hunt campaigner providing his jumping holds together.

There's a sextet of runners lining up for the Novices Handicap Chase, a tricky little three-miler well within the remit of Sunny South East (2.10) if my calculations are correct.

The Gollings-trained six-year-old can probably be forgiven a disappointing effort at Huntingdon last time in view of the fact the two-and-a-half- mile trip was simply too short.

Sunny South East had previously scored over this afternoon's longer distance on a visit to Folkestone, confirming the promise of a course and distance third placing behind a pair of hot-pots trained by Messrs Nichols and Hobbs.

Wide margin winners are always of interest to form students, therefore the nine-length drubbing Tokala (3.20) handed out to the opposition on his inaugural effort over hurdles raised plenty of eyebrows.

To be candid, had Tony McCoy really gone to town aboard Takala the pair could probably have finished a country mile clear, an assertion which, if correct, spells big trouble for their rivals in the EBF Novices Hurdle.

Punters looking to get off to a flyer at Wolverhampton should look no further than Strathclyde (1.50) in the first.

The seven-year-old sprinter has been desperately unlucky on his last two starts, both times failing to obtain a trouble-free passage. Sooner or later the gaps are going to drop right and it's fair to say he's got little to beat in the Classicvaluepools.com handicap.

Tony Culhane rides man-made tracks better than most, boding well for the prospects of Byo (3.30) in the five-furlong Claiming Stakes.

Paul Howling's gelding tore through the pack and only just failed to overhaul Amanda's Lad in a slightly stronger contest at Southwell recently, form which makes stacks more appeal in another pretty diabolical heat.

* Yesterday's 7-2 scorer, OK Pal, made it two winning naps in a row for Janus (Colin Woods), who made Dingaan (15-8) his best bet on Wednesday.

* Both Fakenham and Fontwell must pass early morning inspections due to forecast freezing temperatures.