TIM EASTERBY has Edmo Yewkay (3.35) in the sort of prime fettle required to capture Uttoxeter's top race, the £55,000 Singer & Friedlander Handicap Chase.

Russ Garritty's mount lost no cast whatsoever in defeat when a close-up fourth in a rousing contest worthy of a championship event at Wetherby a fortnight ago.

Garritty couldn't have done any more, putting a gun to the head of his partner when leaping into the lead at the halfway stage, an advantage the combination only relinquished two fences from home.

Having been overtaken one could excuse the raising of a white flag, however nothing was further from the truth as Easterby's gallant six-year-old battled on in never-say-die fashion all the way to the winning line.

Crucially Easterby has opted to step his charge up in trip by a couple of furlongs for Edmo Yewkay's sternest examination to date, a test of character he's anticipated to pass with flying colours.

Whether top-weight will be sufficient to anchor Nine de Sivola (2.55) is open to question, especially since Ferdy Murphy's French import seems to go from strength-strength.

Nine de Sivola has won all of his last four completed starts, the only blip coming on a fruitless visit to Sedgefield, where the preliminary signs were ominous as he drifted like a barge in the betting.

The best news concerning the selection revolves around the booking of conditional jockey PJ McDonald, who not only lightens the load by 7lbs but also looked like a star in the making when steering the horse to victory at Warwick.

Meanwhile, Monday's meeting at Carlisle is subject to an 8am inspection tomorrow.

The Cumbrian venue is currently waterlogged, prompting officials to check conditions over the weekend.

''It is heavy, waterlogged in places today and unraceable,'' said Carlisle general manager John Baker.

''The forecast is favourable though, but we still thought it wise to inspect on Sunday morning. Hopefully we will see some improvement by then.''

Jockey Noel Fehily's rollercoaster year at Fakenham took a turn for the better as he rode his first winner on Eskimo Pie since returning from a ban incurred at the Norfolk track, writes MICHAEL WINSTON.

Fehily's initial visit to Fakenham in 2006 saw him complete a 500-1 treble but it was a different story at the end of last month, when he ended up on the wrong side of a stewards' ruling.

The Irish rider was first past the post on Prize Fighter in an infamous juvenile hurdle, only to suffer disqualification for taking the wrong course.

The blunder resulted in a ten-day suspension, reduced by one day on appeal, but he helped ease the memory of that setback with an eye-catching success on Eskimo Pie (15-8) in the ''One Year On And Hunting Still Continues'' Beginners' Chase.

''I hope I keep this race,'' quipped Fehily as he returned to the weighing-room.

There was never any doubt on that score as the Chris Bealby-trained seven-year-old hinted at a bright future with his convincing ten-length triumph over Tufty Hopper.

Connections will now mull over whether to send Eskimo Pie to the Cheltenham Festival, for which he is well entered-up.

Grantham handler Bealby confirmed: ''He is entered in the Sun Alliance, Jewson Novices' and the Kim Muir. But I should think the Kim Muir would be the favourite if he goes there at all.

''It would want to be good to soft for him."

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