TORKINKING (4.10) has his sights set on winning Newcastle's Spike Rawlings Handicap Hurdle for the second season in a row.

Twelve months ago, the Maurice Barnes-trained gelding stormed away with first prize off a rating of 104. As a result of two further wins, Torkinking (4.10) has now shot up to a heady mark of 129.

Sooner or later the handicapper is going to catch up with the selection, however, on the prevailing heavy ground, the seven-year-old is like Alan Shearer facing an open goal - absolutely deadly.

Should Torkinking come in again this afternoon, it will be his second triumph within the space of three weeks at the Tyneside track, having fought his way to a fast-time success on February 25.

Much of the credit for that battling effort must be attributed to the up-and-coming conditional jockey Ben Orde-Powlett, who once again takes the ride and will doubtless adopt his normal front-running tactics.

Sandy Forster, based near Kelso, has her small team in particularly good heart at present.

Forster not only trains Treasured Memories, but also part-owns the six-year-old, who is worthy of an each-way punt for the three-mile betfair.com Handicap Hurdle.

As far as recent encouragement goes, the mare lost little in defeat over a half-mile shorter when narrowly touched off in a three-way bunch finish at Carlisle last month.

Forster's decision to step Treasured Memories up a further four furlongs in trip seems the sensible option, especially as the stiff uphill climb to the line holds no fears for the Scottish raider.

Sticking to the old betting maxim of relying on horses "doing what they've done best before", previous course-and-distance winner Nocatee gets the nod for the Guinness St Patrick's Day Handicap Chase.

On the face of it, a 25-length pasting at the hands of Chabrimal Minster, when third on his latest Warwick outing, appears shabby stuff from Nocatee (5.10).

For sure Patrick Haslam's gelding was beaten quite a long way, however he tried to rally over the final couple of fences, plus has been fitted with a tongue strap to help get more oxygen into his lungs.

Best bet at Wetherby may well prove to be the darkly-named Danse Macabre (3.55), a leading contender for the £12,000 Guy Salmon Handicap Hurdle.

Danse Macabre is on a sharp upward curve, having posted back-to-back Sandown wins last month, notably when slamming Diamond Mick on the last occasion, form that entitles him to complete a well-deserved hat-trick.

The £20,000 Rocom Handicap Chase is the feature event on the card, a race in which Kausse de Thaix (4.25) is worth a second look.

Rather like Nocatee, Kausse de Thaix was on the wrong end of right good hiding when last seen out but can still be fancied in view of the fact his trainer, Oliver Sherwood, is on a roll.

Cheltenham might not be the only place the Irish are flourishing this week, since Lingfield's £100,000 Winter Derby could be heading back to the Emerald Isle courtesy of Arturius (3.15).

A Sir Michael Stoute reject, Arturius has made rapid progress on the all-weather circuit during the winter, completing a magnificent three-timer in handsome fashion at Wolverhampton 15 days ago.

After such a superb haul, you wouldn't have expected his handler, Philip Rothwell, to predict his four-year-old capable of significant improvement, however Rothwell is confident his charge has bags more to offer.

Karl Burke, who has acquired King Marju (3.50) from Peter Chapple-Hyam, already has good reason to suggest it was a shrewd purchase.

King Marju got a dose of the sulks towards the end of his spell with Chapple-Hyam, moodiness that perhaps persuaded Peter it was time to get rid.

Burke boldly sent his new recruit out to Dubai, a change of scenery which worked as the Middleham sprinter picked up a fair few quid for finishing third in the UAE late last month.

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