GREEN IDEAL (4.10) could prove a cut above the opposition in Newcastle's Viking Racing Club Handicap Chase.

Had it not been for a series of brutal blunders throughout his career, Green Ideal would surely have much more to show than a total of three lifetime victories.

The error-prone gelding has tossed many a race away with his less than foot-perfect jumping technique, but thankfully made no mistake at Ayr recently, steaming well clear in the home straight to notch an emphatic success.

Perhaps that near-faultless round on Scottish soil will herald a new dawn for the Ferdy Murphy-trained eight-year-old, who must be in with a big shout, despite having to hump top-weight.

Luckless Tinian (3.40) was still in there pitching at Leicester 13 days ago, prior to being freakishly carried off the track by virtue of an inexperienced jockey on his inside steering wide and taking the wrong course.

Spennymoor-based trainer Tracey Waggott must have been fuming after travelling all that way, only for her horse to be cruelly robbed by what were once-in-a-blue-moon circumstances.

Waggott's response is sensibly not to set the bar too high for Tinian, who has been targeted at the lowly Selling Handicap Hurdle, an event well within his remit given better fortune in running.

Patrick Haslam might be in line for a first and last race double via Alfred The Great (1.40) and Etoile Russe (4.40).

Alfred The Great, unbeaten in two starts over hurdles at Sandown and Kelso, positively bolted in at the last-named venue, coasting to a five-length triumph and providing Barry Keniry with an armchair ride.

The downside of winning adds up to a brace of 7lb penalties, however Keniry has been replaced by the red-hot conditional Patrick Merrigan, whose 5lb allowance partially compensates for some of the extra weight.

Etoile Russe's prospects in the Read All About It Handicap Hurdle rest on his ability to stay the two-and-a-half-mile distance.

The selection will be entering unknown territory during the final three furlongs, but he certainly wasn't stopping when mercilessly trouncing his rivals at Sedgefield over a slightly shorter trip last time out.

Talk about heartbreak hotel, My Final Bid (2.40) has filled the runners-up spot on all four public appearances.

Trained locally by Tyneside permit holder, Ann Hamilton, My Final Bid went agonisingly close when beaten less than a length by Nicky Richards' useful Irish import, Money Trix, in January.

Hamilton gelding is a son of the prolific National Hunt sire, Supreme Leader, so the step up to three miles can only help cure what is developing into a frustrating case of seconditis.

It's a dreadful card at Folkestone, therefore "away" punters might like to avail themselves of a bet on Katie Lawson (5.00) in Southwell's Text Betdirect Handicap.

Katie Lawson battled bravely to open her account at the all-weather venue last week, an inaugural success that had all the hallmarks of a filly with the potential to progress and plunder plenty more prize money.

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