INSTRUCTOR (7.05) should be able to teach his rivals a thing or two in this evening's Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield.

Richard Fahey's former smart middle-distance handicapper has now turned his attention to the jumping game and it surely cannot be long before the gelding makes his mark over timber.

Perth's betting market clearly thought Instructor was about to strike north of the Border last time out, the punters piling in to make the Malton raider a warm 9-4 favourite It's true Fahey's representative didn't bash the bookies on that occasion, but he still finished a close second against far superior opposition to that he faces tonight.

The Novices' Chase offers Saif Sereea (6.30) the chance to open his fencing account at the first time of asking.

Granted the huge superiority of his official hurdles rating, Saif Sereea simply has to transfer that ability to the bigger obstacles to make his class tell.

Following his facile course and distance victory at the last meeting, it's nigh on impossible to oppose Dead Mans Dante (7.40) in the Kat Rankin Novices Handicap Hurdle.

Realising Dead Mans Dante is going to take a diabolical hike in the weights by virtue of the triumph, Ferdy Murphy has whipped out Dead Mans Dante double-quick with only a 7lbs penalty to shoulder.

All three of the above selections will start at short odds, so in search of better value Queen Of Diamonds (8.40) gets the eachway nod for the WBX Handicap Hurdle.

Having looked a total duffer for most of her life, Kate Walton's four-year-old was understandably friendless in the market and sent off a 66-1 rag on a recent visit to Perth.

However, Queen Of Diamonds ran perfectly respectably to snatch third spot at the Scottish venue.

The filly is by Fruits Of Love, out of a Kings Theatre mare, therefore possesses the pedigree to progress.

Sandown's star-studded meeting is the next stop for the Sierra Vista (8.20) rags-to-riches success story.

Bought by Darlington businessman David Metcalfe for a song at 500 guineas, Sierra Vista has now amassed over £195,000 in prize money as a result of 11 career wins to date.

The David Barker-trained mare smashed up a decent field at Haydock on Saturday and deserves to take her chance in the £85,000 Group 2 Temple Stakes.