SEDGEFIELD is the latest stop for Ferdy Murphy's globetrotting gelding Seasquill (1.45), who in a much-travelled career has already won three times in Australasia, as well picking up useful place money when campaigned in the Middle-East.

"We bought Seasquill in Dubai and I couldn't believe how good his form was, he's won a Listed race on the Flat, as well as being second in the Australian Derby and fourth in the New Zealand Derby," said Ferdy.

Having lived and raced predominately in far warmer parts of the world, Seasquill has unsurprisingly taken time to get back into the groove undertaking his training out on Middleham High Moor, where the temperature more often than not only just hovers above zero at this time of year.

However, after a few fairly undistinguished efforts finishing down the field in novices' hurdles, Seasquill showed much more promise last time at Musselburgh, producing a tidy turn of foot to snatch sixth spot having been out with the washing for the majority of the contest.

Murphy's stable jockey Davy Russell will now likely employ more positive tactics by riding Seasquill much nearer to the pace in the Levy Board Novices' Handicap Hurdle, a ploy which could so easily be rewarded with a first victory on these shores.

Nicky Richards, currently boasting a fantastic 27 per cent strike-rate with his National Hunt runners, has opted to send his consistent mare River Ness (3.50) chasing, having made the frame on three of her four starts over hurdles so far this term.

Richards has cannily found a weak race for River Ness to enter the fray over the larger' obstacles, and it's hard to envisage her getting beaten in the Tattersalls Mares Only Novices' Chase.

In the Northern Racing Handicap Chase the one fancied to come out on top is the Scottish raider Gayles And Showers (4.20), hailing from Sue Bradburne's shrewd north of the border outfit.

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