HOWARD JOHNSON and Graham Lee have been unstoppable at Sedgefield this season, so it'll be no surprise if the combination win the first couple of races on the card with Balyan and Zeitgeist.

Apart from the fact Balyan (1.30) failed to oblige favourite backers on his Catterick jumps' debut, he did precious little else wrong by chasing home Michael Hammond's Industrial Star.

There's a local school of thought believing Industrial Star could be pretty special, therefore as Balyan finished only just over a length behind him, it follows that Johnson and Lee are yet again the team to keep on side.

In common with Balyan, Zeitgeist also made an inaugural jumping appearance at Catterick, although he went one better than his stable-companion by scoring at the first time of asking.

Despite the victory connections were understandably unhappy with Zeitgeist, who was a high-class handicapper on the Flat when trained by Luca Cumani and should have won in common canter, rather than struggle to a narrow neck success.

Owner Graham Wylie was clearly of the opinion the five-year-old was capable of much superior form and promised to get the horse checked over by the vet on return to base camp at White Lea Farm, Crook.

It's not unfair to deduce that all must now be hunky-dory with the selection, who should theoretically outclass his rivals and give Lee an armchair ride in division 2 of the Gosforth Decorating And Building Novices' Hurdle.

The same firm sponsors the Beginners' Chase, a two-mile-five-furlong contest in which Vicario (2.30) has an outstanding chance.

Ginger McCain's representative was by far the best of the field over hurdles, plus as a five-year-old receives an invaluable 8lbs weight allowance, a handy pull which is the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

If McCain happens to fail with Vicario, West Hill (3.00) is waiting in the wings to save his bacon by lining up for the Bet365 Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

An each-way wager is recommended on West Hill, far from disgraced when filling fifth spot in what has subsequently turned out to be a decent race at Bangor in the lead up to Christmas.

Perhaps even more significantly, Ginger's stable has hit top gear over the past four weeks and with his horses on a roll the prospects of West Hill have been seriously boosted.

The sticky' state of the ground will hopefully help Charlie Tango (3.30) get back in the groove after flopping at Fakenham.

Previously Charlie Tango had dished out an eight-length drubbing to Step Perfect, an emphatic course and distance triumph which proved the gelding to be fully effective when asked to propel his hocks off a soft surface.

All-weather punters have a feast of action to enjoy, but not for the first time it's quantity rather than quality, which is the order of the day at both Wolverhampton and Lingfield.

Arguably the pick of a bad bunch is Tony Carroll's grey, Nautical (3.20), fancied to reverse last week's track and trip defeat by Lincolneurocruiser in Wolverhampton's betdirect.co.uk Handicap.

l Crow Wood provided supporters of Janus (Colin Woods) with a 9-2 winning nap at Musselburgh yesterday.

l Halcon Genelardis continued his climb up the novice chasing ranks with a resounding victory at Wetherby which provided trainer Alan King with his 300th career success on Saturday.

The progressive six-year-old won on his debut over fences at Warwick three weeks ago and was backed down to 5-6 to follow up in the totepool Towton Novices' Chase. The French-bred gelding jumped soundly for Wayne Hutchinson apart from a mistake at the last, but by that time he had the race in safe keeping and he galloped home 15 lengths clear of Preacher Boy.

Halcon Genelardis remained unchanged at 12-1 with William Hill and 14-1 with VC Bet for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Another horse who could require cut in the ground if he is to run at the Festival is Neptune Collonges, who romped home in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was sent off at 2-5 for the Grade Two contest and the favourite soon settled down in the lead.

Leighton Aspell gave Claymore a polished ride to land the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Chase.

There was a turn up in the toteexacta Handicap Hurdle when 25-1 chance Albany ran out the eight-length winner for Brian Hughes and trainer Howard Johnson.

Johnson was represented by his wife Sue, who said: ''Brian has been a great asset to the yard. He's an absolute star and most importantly he listens to everything Howard tells him.''

Sherwood and Aspell were just denied a double when Mount Sandel was beaten a short head by Kealshore Lad in the Phantom European Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.