THE combination of soft ground and the severe test of stamina make a solid case for supporting Rosetown (3.40) at Wetherby this afternoon.

The Tom George-trained seven-year-old lines up in the three-mile-and-one furlong Howden Joinery Novices' Handicap Chase, a demanding long distance event that's sure to sort the wheat out from the chaff.

Plenty will fall by the wayside by the time the runners reach the closing stages, but not hopefully Rosetown, a relentless grinder who although bereft of speed, has the ability to keep plugging on when others have cried 'enough'.

Critics will point to the fact the selection failed to quicken in fourth place on a fruitless journey to Folkestone a month ago, however in reality the easy nature of Kent venue simply didn't play to the gelding's strengths.

By contrast, Wetherby's long uphill home straight is just the sort of topography to bring out the best in Rosetown, the safest each-way in a wide-open heat.

Keith Reveley's stable deserve a bit of cheer having lost one of their stable stars, Malek, as a result of a fall in Newcastle's Eider Chase on Saturday.

National Hunt racing is a perilous business at the best of times, so let's hope team Reveley's Diklers Rose (3.10) returns safe and sound in the EBF Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.

Diklers Rose has always been highly thought of despite having taken time to fulfil her promise. Thankfully that situation was banished forever when she claimed the notable scalp of Ile Maurice over track and trip in January.

Ile Maurice, a big-time improver from Ferdy Murphy's stable, proved a tough nut to crack, therefore Keith has given his grey daughter of Rosilier five weeks to recover from those arduous exertions.

Given the benefit of the break from duty, Diklers Rose should now be fresh and fancied for today's challenge in which Peter Beaumont's locally trained, Cloudless Dawn, will probably pose the greatest threat.

Silver Seeker's (4.15) hat-trick shouldn't be thwarted by too much lead under his saddle seeing as he's set to carry bottom-weight in the Rocom Plantronics Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old began by picking up a lowly seller at Newcastle, a performance he improved upon significantly with a victory in a better class Musselburgh affair.

Raised a total of 13lbs for that brace, the extra burden might still not be enough to anchor Silver Seeker, especially with the sublime assistance of P J McDonald, arguably the most proficient conditional jockey on the northern circuit.

With the current cold snap quite likely to wreak havoc at both of the jumps' meetings, Southwell's all-weather Flat fixture could yet be the only surviving meeting.

The £10,000 Text Betdirect Handicap represents the highlight of the card, a seven furlong contest in which Ludovico (4.05) may excel.

Never mind waiting around for Kevin Ryan's powerful string to hit the soon-to-come turf season running, because his sand performers are on fire.

Ludovico certainly enters that category after finishing a creditable third on a recent Wolverhampton spin, an encouraging outing following a six-month holiday.

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