JAMES REVELEY bids to build on an already burgeoning reputation by booting home Pepsyrock (2.40) in Newbury's Novices' Handicap Chase.

The son of Lingdale trainer, Keith Reveley, James continues to catch the eye with a string of very stylish performances in the saddle.

Pepsyrock, based in France with Gui Macaire, has tried his luck a couple of times on these shores, his best effort when finishing a decent third at Warwick last November.

The five-year-old has since hosed up by ten lengths on home soil, a sparkling run about which the handicapper on this side of channel is unable to make an accurate assessment.

It's not a straightforward call, but Pepsyrock might just prove to be one step ahead of the game, especially with both track and ground in his favour.

The Gallic theme is maintained in the following Novices' Handicap Hurdle, a race for which French import, Pamak d'Airy (3.15), holds outstanding claims.

It's a hands-and-heels only affair so don't expect the whips to be administered, although if Pamak d'Airy is on top form, his jockey might well have an armchair ride.

The Nicky Henderson-trained selection opened his account with a cosy victory at Sandown, after which he's twice run competently without actually troubling the judge.

Second-guessing a trainer's thinking is all part of the circus, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Henderson has been keeping his powder dry with this race in mind.

Late-maturing middledistance horses such as Lingfield raider,Vice Consul (4.50), are typical of his stoutlybred sire, In The Wings.

Add into the melting pot the fact that Vice Consul's mother is by Rainbow Quest, and we have a crystal-clear profile as far as stamina reserves are concerned.

Given Joe Fanning's mount ran green over what was an inadequate trip, he did a pretty good job to nab fourth place on his mile-and-a-quarter course debut.

Bearing in mind the abovementioned information, it's not hard to envisage Vice Consul improving sufficiently to open his account in the Pontin's Maiden Stakes.

As soon as Lingfield has finished, Joe must leg it up to Kempton, where he partners the strongly-fancied Viscountess (7.50) in the Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Like so many of her gender, Viscountess was extremely slow to come to hand last term, only once making it to the racecourse.

That said, it was an outing full of promise, since she stayed on to finish fourth in a sevenfurlong Yarmouth event in which many of the top stables were represented.

The going was slow and since her pedigree suggests she needs it quick, Viscountess should be far happier on this evening's much faster man-made polytrack surface