CLOUDING OVER simply pulverised her rivals at Catterick last week and there seems no reason why she won't be in similar form at the same track today.

Keith Reveley's stocky filly only has to shoulder a 7lb penalty for that facile success, which is nothing considering Richie McGrath just had to shake the reins at the five-year-old in order to put daylight between himself and the rest of the field.

The only potential problem is the two-mile-and-three-furlong distance of the Manchester Handicap Hurdle, nearly a half-mile more than last week's trip.

Still, on all known evidence Clouding Over doesn't appear to have any problems in the stamina department, although trainer Reveley thinks her optimum conditions are a fast run, end-to-end gallop, over two miles.

If Mikasa (2.30) doesn't get too far behind in the early stages of the Edinburgh Novices Handicap Chase, then victory could be his in the £6,000 contest.

Roger Fisher's gelding hit a real "flat spot" at Newcastle in February, losing vital momentum as the leaders scampered clear at the midway stage. Mikasa did manage to rally in the home straight, but sadly he had reeled out too much rope to catch those up front.

George Moore's gelding, Beamish Prince, has done most of his work at Wetherby so far this season.

Whether he needs an equally stiff track to be at his best, only time will tell. However, we do know that according to the BHB's Official ratings, Beamish Prince should be in the shake-up for the Weatherbys Bank Novices Hurdle, with the main threat expected to emerge from the Graham Lee-ridden, Motive.

As Tom Greenall is by far-and-away the most polished jockey on view in the John Wade Hunters Chase, the logical choice has to be his partner, Kings Boy (4.30).

David Easterby does exceptionally well with his point-to-pointers, and Kings Boy is certain to have been well prepared, even though he hasn't been seen out on a racecourse for the best part of two years.

* Graham Lee will return from a near four-week lay-off with two rides at Catterick today.

The Grand National-winning jockey has been sidelined since breaking his left collarbone in a fall from Kew Jumper at Wincanton on February 10.

Lee has been riding out this week and he will return to action on the Howard Johnson-trained Motive in the Weatherbys Bank Novices Hurdle.

Lee will also partner Only Words in the Manchester Handicap Hurdle, and he said: ''I just hope everything goes well. I rode out this morning and it seemed fine.

''I've just got the two rides and I will be taking it steady until Cheltenham next week.''

Lee looks set to have an enviable book of rides at the Festival, with his possible mounts including Grey Abbey in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, Akilak in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Inglis Drever in either the Smurfit Champion Hurdle or the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

He added: ''I'm just looking forward to getting there.''

* Kicking King could make a shock appearance at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Tom Taaffe had ruled the seven-year-old out of the meeting after he scoped badly on March 1, but he could yet make the line-up for the big meeting, where he holds entries in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and Daily Telegraph Trophy.

Taaffe said: ''I will be issuing a statement on Thursday and hopefully we will be a bit the wiser then."