UTTOXETER'S £70,000 Singer & Friedlander National Trial is likely to be run in a quagmire, but that won't worry Brancepeth-based mudlark, Tyneandthyneagain (2.15).

Conditions are already described as heavy at the course, which must pass a 7.30am inspection before racing is allowed to proceed. But if the forecast overnight rain does not materialise, then Tyneandthyneagain, who runs in the colours of Grand National-winning owner Norman Mason, is a must for your Saturday selection list.

Sadly, Mason's 2002 Grand National hero, Red Marauder, failed to make the track again after his famous victory at Aintree. However, in the guise of Tyneandthyneagain, Norman could have a ready-made replacement.

Although the nine-year-old gelding has never won over fences, his hurdles form stands up to the closest inspection. He was even considered to be a live contender for the 2002 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by trainer Richard Guest.

Guest has now turned his attentions to the bigger obstacles and there is plenty of encouragement to be gleaned from the Durham raider's latest effort over fences at Warwick, where he chased home Alan King's high-class three-miler D'Argent.

The omens are therefore seemingly good for Tyneandthyneagain, who above all will appreciate the three-and-half-mile trip and bottomless ground, a combination of which I'm sure is going to hamper many of his more fancied rivals.

By a curious twist of fate, Tyneandthyneagain has also been declared to run at Doncaster in the Skybet Chase, however he will only re-route if Uttoxeter is abandoned.

At the shorter trip of three miles, I would not anticipate him beating the tip for that contest, Lord Noelie, unless the ground on the Town Moor is severely compromised by a torrential pre-race deluge.

There's an even more substantial prize on offer for the £100,000 Servo Computer Services Handicap Chase at Ascot, where Fondmort (2.35) and Tiutchev are fancied to fight out the finish.

Preference is marginally for the former on account of his dazzling success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup prior to Christmas. Admittedly, Tiutchev subsequently got the better of the argument when the pair clashed in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but that race was over three miles on quite a fast surface, neither of which were 100 per cent suitable for Mick FitzGerald's mount.

In the opener at the Berkshire venue, the gallant eleven-year-old Coulthard (12.50) might well have the legs of some far more youthful rivals.

Pam Sly's small yet select string has just started to hit form and there is also considerable encouragement to be derived from Coulthard's previous course-and-distance success.

Ayr's two-and-half-mile sportingoptions.co.uk Handicap Chase has attracted a smart looking bunch of individuals, including Byron Lamb (2.20)

Byron Lamb was taking on some pretty hot cookies when fourth on his latest outing at Ascot. Trainer Nicky Richards realises his horse is in a very competitive division and therefore has taken the precaution of booking the top-notch conditional rider Paul Robson, whose handy 3lb could be vital if, as expected, the contest becomes a close call.

Few eight-year-olds demonstrate the sort of improvement shown by Bob's Buster, winner of three of his last four races.

Bob's Buster (3.30), who did this column a tidy favour when landing the nap at Kelso 15 days ago, possesses an explosive turn of foot and is once again going to prove very hard to beat in the two-mile Serendipity Handicap Chase at the West of Scotland course.

Flat fans can look forward to a full eight-race card at Lingfield, where another former winning nap, Vortex (1.55), gets the nod in the Bet Direct Handicap.

Vortex came in for heaps of praise after his latest success at Wolverhampton from trainer Gay Kelleway, not normally one to be carried away in the heat of the moment.

Gay obviously thinks very highly of the five-year-old, an extremely versatile performer with the enviable reputation of being fully effective on grass, polytrack and the fibresand.

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