SOFT ground should ensure Rebel Rhythm (2.15) restores his slightly tarnished reputation at Bangor today.

Having hardly put a foot wrong on his first three starts, Rebel Rhythm then forgot to read the script when, despite being heavily backed, he folded like a deckchair to finish last of seven in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December.

Sue Smith has given her emerging star a 44-day holiday to recover from the unexpected reverse, and my guess is Rebel Rhythm will come back all guns blazing for the EBF National Hunt Novices Hurdle at the rain-soaked North Wales venue.

Now that Henry Daly's stable have shifted into top gear, Coursing Run (4.00) might be worth a second look for the longest race on the card, the 3-mile Handicap Chase.

Coursing Run has won at the track before, goes extremely well in the mud, and has prevailed before off the same 119 rating he carries in today's marathon affair.

All three factors are compelling reasons to side with Coursing Run, however there are two sides to every argument and the combination of top-weight, together with the lung-busting trip, will put many punters off the nine-year-old.

For my money, having weighed up all of the available evidence, I believe Daly's gelding can overcome these drawbacks and maintain his trainer's recent welcome resurgence.

Patrick Haslam's Fiori (4.30) hasn't got many miles on the clock, so he might just have sufficient speed to lower the colours of the probable favourite for the Gilbert Cotton Hunters Chase, Sikander A Azam.

Fiori ran only twice last season, scoring at Hexham then finishing a close-up second at Market Rasen. He certainly jumps like the proverbial stag, and neither is there anything wrong with his ability to quicken once the jockeys ask for maximum thrust in the closing stages.

After performing heroics to take third spot in a pretty warm event at Wetherby on Saturday, Newmarket handler Geoff Huffer wastes no time in whipping out Royal Atalza (3.45) for the Sunbury Handicap at Kempton.

Owned by the legendary gambler Terry Ramsden, who won then lost a fortune on the Japanese Stock Market, Royal Atalza seems sure to give an excellent account in the vastly underrated hands of Irish pilot, Paul Moloney.

Supporters of Mister Marmaduke (4.40) must have been totally gutted when he was collared in the shadow of the lollipop by Cashel Mead over course and distance at Wolverhampton a month ago.

Ian Semple's trail-blazer had blitzed out of the gates and appeared to have all his rivals well and truly cooked, until his stride shortened in the final 100 yards.

Master of the sand, Robert Winston, now takes over in the saddle from Tom Eaves, a ploy that could ensure Mister Marmaduke keeps his head in front where it counts most for the five-furlong Spot The Ball Handicap.

* Graham Lee faces another spell on the sidelines after fracturing his left collar-bone in a heavy fall from Kew Jumper in the Dick Reynolds Novices Handicap Chase on his first visit to Wincanton yesterday.

Kew Jumper was held in third place when he came to grief at the final fence.

The Grand National-winning jockey returned at Catterick last month following six weeks out of action after he broke his right arm at Doncaster in November.

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