DON'T Call Me Derek (3.20) will be in his element on the predicted heavy ground for Sandown's Imperial Cup.

There are all sort of clues pointing to the Malton raider's chances, starting with his 11-length demolition of George Moore's mudlark, Toldo, on the closing day of the 2005 Flat season at Doncaster.

The next piece of conclusive evidence refers to Don't Call Me Derek's Newcastle second-placing to Torkinking under similarly bog-like conditions in a competitive handicap hurdle.

They say the best form is recent form, so the fact the Tyneside cracker was achieved only 14 days ago confirms the selection to be in the rudest of order for this afternoon's £60,000 showpiece.

There could easily be more success for our region if Top Brass (2,30) can justify each-way support in the opening EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Having landed a nice little gamble when scoring at Musselburgh, the cards simply didn't fall for Keith Reveley's five-year-old when occupying third spot on a frustrating trip to Newbury.

The first thing that went wrong was the fact Top Brass pulled too hard in the early stages, wasting vital energy. He then clattered into the second flight from home, lost momentum and, soon afterwards, the lead.

For most horses the combined calamity would have been all too much, but not Top Brass, who rallied strongly on the run-in and might even have got back up to win in a few more strides.

Something seemed radically amiss when Migwell (2.45) pulled up at Huntingdon last time out.

Having napped and backed Migwell, I could be accused of talking through my pocket, however that's simply not true because the gelding neither took any interest nor jumped a twig throughout.

Trainer Lucy Wadham clearly hasn't found anything physically untoward with her horse seeing as it's only 23 days since that debacle, a sulky performance best put down to a bad day at the office.

As a more reliable guide check out Migwell's previous run, a clear-cut victory giving every indication he's capable of bouncing back to his best for the £12,000 Handicap Chase.

After a brilliant 2004/05 campaign, it's been a case of after the Lord Mayor's show for John Wade's small yet select string.

The Newton Aycliffe handler stable has been under a black cloud all season, although in the guise of Ayr-bound Devil's Run there might be some light on the horizon.

You wouldn't back Devil's Run (2.50) to win a 100-metre dash, but in races such as the three-mile-five-furlong Dawn Holmes Handicap Chase, he'll keep on galloping until kingdom come.

Wade's stayer was actually quietly fancied to go well in Newcastle's Eider Chase, a contest in which he made an early exit as a result of a most uncharacteristic jumping error.

Normally speaking he's as safe as houses in that particular department, so it would be unwise to discount Devil's Run purely on the grounds he's unlikely to complete the course.

Peter Beaumont's Flight Command has been slow to reach his peak this term, perhaps due to the softly-softly approach adopted by his astute trainer.

Patience is a virtue in this game and it's not hard to deduce Flight Command is about to strike, having narrowly lost out on his latest start in a driving finish with Brave Thought.

It's a tough enough sport to make pay without tossing away winning chances in the manner of Ton-Chee, four lengths clear and going great guns when tipping up at Catterick's final fence in January.

It was a rare misjudgement by jockey Tony Dobbin, who will be keen to make amends by steering Ken Hogg's Isle of Man-based seven-year-old to well-deserved compensation in the Hugh Barclay Challenge Trophy.

Ferdy Murphy doesn't send too many down to Chepstow, therefore it might be worth taking the hint and supporting both Clemax (2.30) and Canavan with a view to securing a first and last-race double.

Each require a severe test of stamina, a predisposition which will be met in spades as they've had a boatload of rain during the past 48 hours at the soggy south Wales venue.

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