County Durham trainer Howard Johnson has good reason for thinking that the current National Hunt season could be his most rewarding since taking out a licence.

With the backing of Graham Wylie, the Crook-based handler now has strength in depth in many divisions and it'll be a surprise if he's not competing for top honours at the big festivals later in the season.

Johnson is equally adept at getting the best out of ordinary performers, too, and his Deja vu looks an interesting runner in the competitive looking Enter The £1 Million totetentofollow Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield this afternoon.

Following three inauspicious runs in novice company, this full brother to multiple hurdle winner The Dark Lord turned in a much improved effort when beating subsequent winner Wet Lips at Musselburgh.

He's not been seen since finishing lame back at the same course in February but, with his yard in such good form, lack of a previous run shouldn't be a concern.

Graham Lee takes the ride in preference to course specialist Teme Valley and, although up in grade, is open to plenty of improvement.

Johnson and Lee also have prospects of a winner with Astronomic in division two of the Northern Echo Novices Hurdle over two miles and one furlong.

A winner over a mile and a quarter on good ground in France last year, the gelding, who had a 99 rating in that sphere, is sure to have been well schooled for this hurdles debut and won't have to be anything special to win this.

Division one of the same contest can go to Richard Fahey's Wing Commander, who was also a useful performer on the Flat (rated 90) and can continue the stable's excellent run of form in the second half of this year.

Ferdy Murphy is a stable firmly back among the winners and his Fashions Monty makes plenty of appeal in the Newcastle Brown Ale Handicap Chase over three miles and three furlongs.

This course and distance winner in February ran his best race since when trotting up at Hexham last week and, as that race was a conditional riders' one, he escapes a penalty this time.

Brian Ellison, who hit the jackpot when successful in last Saturday's November handicap, can make the long trip to Huntingdon worthwhile by taking the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle with King Eider.

He's shown he retains ability on the Flat for his new stable but is of much more interest back over obstacles and conditions should be more in his favour than the testing conditions he encountered in the Cesarewitch last time.

On the newly-laid fibresand at Southwell, Patrick Haslam's The Pen makes plenty of appeal on his all-weather debut in division one of the Bet Direct At Southwell Nursery over a mile.

The juvenile, whose style should be well suited to this surface, has progressed with each of his four starts and turned in an improved performance to win when upped to this trip on soft ground at Redcar last time.

Course specialist Pawn In Life is interesting in the Bet Direct On Sky Active Handicap over a mile, while Heavens Walk looks sure to give a good account in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Maiden over five furlongs.

l Newcastle's Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle on November 27 will carry record prize money as it is run for the first time under Grade One status. A 67 per cent increase takes it to £75,000 with officials hoping for a high-class turnout for the two mile contest.