PREVIOUS course and distance winner, Mr Christie (2.30), should not be left out of calculations for Hereford's Happy New Year Classified Hurdle.

Because of a mulish tendency to get himself detached from the rest of the field in the early stages of his races, Lyn Siddall's veteran stayer has been called all sorts of unpleasant names in the past by disgruntled backers.

But you can't argue with the statistics, and the fact of the matter is that Mr Christie has won no less than ten times in a long and reasonably distinguished career.

Neither does age seem to be any barrier to the 13-year-old, who was running in significantly better company when third at Haydock last Thursday.

He's not the horse to need lengthy breaks between his visits to the track, which combined with the marathon trip, plus soft ground, should ensure Mr Christie at least makes the frame, or with luck wins the £4,000 event.

Lambourn handler Charlie Egerton has his team in sublime form, very much pointing to the prospects of Graphic Approach (1.00) in the Red Mills Beginners Chase.

Graphic Approach looked like the proverbial machine when winning his first two hurdles' races last season, however he then fell and followed up with a below-par effort at Sandown.

Egerton has significantly opted to miss out the normal next step of going handicap hurdling and decided to send his charge straight chasing, which to the uninitiated is a hint in itself that Graphic Approach has schooled with bags of promise for his first try over the bigger obstacles.

Honey's Gift is sure to be all the rage for the Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle after destroying the opposition with emphatic victory on her most recent start at Fontwell.

I'm not so sure today's far sharper and less testing track will play to Honey's Gift's strengths, and as a viable alternative I'm siding with Miss Mallmit (3.30).

Jim Old's mare returned from a 33-week absence at Warwick 18 days ago only to toss away her chance by running out at the fifth hurdle. Miss Mallmit was a 6-1 shot that day and therefore is clearly no mug, so whatever was going through her mind at Warwick, doubtless Wayne Hutchinson is ready and waiting to combat similarly unpredictable antics.

John Best has made the all-weather championship his number priority this winter and the policy is paying off with a steady stream of winners flowing from his Maidstone stable.

One of his most recent was Otago (3.50), who must now shoulder a 6lb penalty incurred for a smooth tack and trip triumph at Lingfield last week. That was Otago's first try at one-mile-and-five-furlongs, a hike in distance which brought about the desired effect having earlier thrown in a some lack-lustre performances during the months of November and December.

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