COURSE specialist Cromwell can defy a 7lb penalty in the Robert Peak Handicap Chase to record a remarkable seventh victory at Market Rasen today.

Mike Chapman's tough-as-teak gelding certainly has the benefit of local knowledge since he is trained just a stone's throw from the track.

And his astute handler has already cleverly placed his stable-star to win four novices' hurdles plus two chasing events at the picturesque Lincolnshire venue.

The latest success was achieved nine days ago in breathtaking fashion when Cromwell (2.25) was booted well clear at halfway, after which his ten rivals never really had any realistic hope of reeling in Billy Worthington's mount.

The horses involved in the finish of the following Boxing Day Comes Next Handicap Chase will be entitled to extra rations this evening because by the time they have slogged three-and-a-half-miles in heavy ground they are sure to feel fairly weary.

Len Lungo's uphill home gallops at his base in Carruthstown are ideal for building up stamina, which should stand the dour stayer Now Young Man (2.55) in good stead for the gruelling test ahead.

Vanishing Dancer (3.25), a first winner for rookie Malton trainer Alan Dickman at Wetherby, has a great chance of making it two-out-of-two in the closing Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

The selection treated the opposition with utter disdain on his debut, expending precious little energy as he romped home in a common canter.

Medium Wave (2.10) is an interesting runner at Wincanton in the Dick Reynolds Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

He ran an absolute stinker when ignominiously carrying the nap vote at Ludlow last time, eventually being pulled up having lost touch with the leaders leaving the back straight.

That was his first try over three miles and maybe he simply didn't stay the trip. Anyway, I think it was an outing too bad to be true and Oliver Sherwood's representative deserves at least one more chance over this slightly shorter distance.

Top-flight amateur rider Ben Hitchcott resumes his partnership with Stopwatch (2.45), the pair unluckily going down in a class E handicap hurdle by a neck over track and trip a fortnight ago. This afternoon the combination attempt to fry even bigger fish in the feature event on the card, the class D £7,500 Showcase Handicap. But the prevailing soft surface provides a crucial advantage for Stopwatch, guaranteed to be piling the pressure on at the death however deep the ground gets.

Tellion (3.35) is difficult to oppose at Leicester if only because he won so impressively at Southwell in October.

One word of caution however, consistency has never been the strong point of the John Jenkins-trained six-year-old.

l Officials at Sandown will hold an inspection of the hurdle course at 2pm today to determine whether racing will be possible tomorrow and Saturday. The going on that track is currently heavy, soft in places and further rain is forecast. Smart prospect No Retreat is set for a return to action at Sandown this weekend as long as ground conditions are not too heavy.

l Tom McGovern's luck took a turn for the better when the Lewes-based trainer saddled a near 86-1 treble at Plumpton.

The three-timer came via wins from Phar Less Hassle, Miners Dance and Golden Rose, the first two ridden by Tony McCoy, who was also in treble form.

McCoy was out of luck in the opener on 1-2 favourite Suvertica, who could never get to grips with all-the-way winner Little Bud in the Sussex Phab Novices' Claiming Hurdle. Little Bud, ridden by Mattie Batchelor, was returned at 50-1 and came home nine lengths clear of Single Currency with the favourite trailing in fourth