ALTHOUGH Jack Flush could never claim to be an ace hurdler, he should still hold too many trumps for his rivals in the opening Sanyo Televisions Selling Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield.

Unfortunately, with yet more rain forecast, the meeting has to first pass a 7am inspection, but if the fixture does survive Jack Flush is a must for the short-list after a particularly pleasing third placing to Haditovski in slightly superior company at Uttoxeter.

And if Mick Sowersby's six-year-old can reproduce that level of form, he will surely take a hand in the finish against a field of 15 mainly modest individuals.

Regular readers of this column will need no introduction to Milan King (1.40), a horse who has done us a couple of good turns in the past.

He sometimes spoils the party by pulling too hard early on, which is a pity because the extra energy expended is sorely missed when the chips are down in the home straight.

On the plus side Milan King is so slick at his hurdles, he tends to gain a couple of lengths at each obstacle. Provided trainer Tony Lockwood has managed to curb the headstrong nature of his inmate, then another course and distance success beckons.

Tonoco (2.10) is an interesting contender for the Novices' Chase run in memory of the former local hero Arthur Stephenson.

Sue Smith's one-time classy timber merchant had a season off through injury and then flopped on his comeback at Southwell three months ago. One bad day at the office shouldn't be regarded as anything out of the ordinary in the racing game and don't be surprised if Tonoco now bounces back to something like his best.

After two pipe-openers at Aintree and Carlisle, Never Can Tell (2.30) must be approaching peak fitness for the Gordon Rees Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton.

He likes to front-run on easy right-handed tracks, a factor no doubt in the forefront of Brian Baugh's mind when he opted for this contest on a track perfect for the selection's naturally exuberant style.

Ultra-consistent Red Bordeaux (1.20) can be the toast of Warwick by taking the Dylan Selling Handicap Hurdle for the title-chasing jockey Richard Johnson.

l Venetia Williams admitted to taking a risk by letting her recent winner King On The Run compete at Kempton yesterday, but it was a gamble that paid off.

Williams hates running horses twice in a week but felt she was forced into the situation with King On The Run due to be put up 11lb in the handicap for his victory at Newbury.

King On The Run was effectively 6lb ''well-in'' for the High Haven Stables We Support The Children Chase, and the 13-8 favourite made light of his 5lb penalty.

Moved into a challenging position by Norman Williamson leaving the back straight, King On The Run headed course specialist Super Tactics at the third-last fence and skipped clear to beat the veteran Even Flow by ten lengths.

Williams looked a relieved woman but was clearly unhappy at the handicapping of King On The Run, and she was quick to point out that the seven-year-old has gone up the same amount for winning a seven-runner £5,600 to-the-winner handicap by two lengths as Lady Cricket did for landing the Thomas Pink Gold Cup.

''It just doesn't add up. Not by my abacus, anyway,'' she said.

''That's why we did today what we had to do. But I won't be pulling him out for a while after this. I'll give him plenty of time now.''

Bright November gained his revenge on the Kempton fences when winning the Igroup Children Are Our Future Novices' Chase, two years after fracturing his pelvis in the corresponding contest.

David Gandolfo's nine-year-old overcame a mistake at the second before beating Mersey Beat by one and a half lengths in the hands of Timmy Murphy.

Bright November, the 10-11 favourite, was bringing up his hat-trick and Gandolfo said: ''Hopefully he'll have a little break now, he's had three fairly quick races.''

Richard Johnston gained his second winner for Nicky Henderson in his role as one of the stand-ins for the sidelined Mick Fitzgerald when guiding Razer Blade, the 5-4 favourite, to an all-the-way eight-length win from stablemate Iris Collonges in the Darren Mercer NSPCC EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle.

Razer Blade had won his only start in a bumper last year for Nigel Twiston-Davies and joined Henderson after being purchased by The Liars Poker Partnership