SEDGEFIELD suits three-times course winner, Karo de Vindecy (7.50), a leading contender for the this evening's featured Northern Echo Handicap Chase.

Our sponsored two-and-a-halfmiler has attracted a competitive 12-runner field, but none boast a better strike-rate than Micky Hammond's consistent gelding.

Successful in five of his 43 career starts, plus second-home six times, Karo de Vindecy has done his Middleham-based trainer proud over recent seasons.

The cake is the presence of Graham Lee in the saddle, a topclass rider who has already steered the selection to victory on two previous occasions.

Hammond's near-neighbours, Mark and Deirdre Johnston, don't normally have National Hunt runners these days, however their son, Charlie, is a keen point-to-point jockey.

Charlie is as fit-as-a-flea and steeplechase fences typically hold no perils for the teenager, due to steer Monte Christo (6.15) in the opening Hunters' Chase.

According to the official ratings Monte Christo should be in the mix, neither will Charlie and partner be inconvenienced by the prevailing quick ground.

Alan Swinbank has always thought plenty of Little Lu, so the alarm bells began to ring when she had to endure a near two-year spell in the doldrums.

Little Lu (8.25) looked like being pretty hot-stuff when comprehensively routing her opponents in a couple of 2006 midsummer bumpers.

Sadly it proved to be a false dawn since the daughter of Danehill Dancer hit the buffers with three defeats in row, twice when made favourite by the public.

Such unexpected reverses can dent a horse's confidence, although this was not the case when Swinbank's mare bounced back at Wetherby this month.

Now that Little Lu has finally returned to form she could easily run up a sequence, especially as Alan is a dab hand at finding suitable targets for his inmates.

The closing two-mile-five-furlong Inbev Handicap Hurdle a low-grade affair dominated by quantity, rather than quality.

This type of contest is for the bookmakers benefit, rather than one the punter is advised to invest his or her life-savings.

Given the afore-mentioned scenario each-way shot Makandy (8.55) gets the nod form this quarter, but shouldn't be regarded as a confident choice.

Makandy's record of failing to win a race of any description to date speaks for itself, nonetheless he did perform respectably when fifth at Market Rasen last time out.