SEDGEFIELD trainer Ray Craggs sends rapidly improving Shape Up (1.00) to Southwell this afternoon in the hope that the gelding can complete a superb four-timer.

Shape Up recorded his most recent victory at Musselburgh, comfortably holding at bay a bevy of battle-hardened campaigners in a mile-and-a-half handicap run at a decent clip throughout.

Equivalent all-weather contests are - generally speaking -not quite as hard to win, so the Bet Direct Handicap over the same distance should be easily within the selection's remit, provided he is able to act on the fibre sand.

Front runners enjoy the obvious advantage of not having to face the dreaded kickback at the Midlands' course, a tactic that could play into the hands of the confirmed trailblazer, Spring Breeze (3.15).

Spring Breeze, who made every yard of the running to collect in emphatic fashion at Catterick in September, will have to break swiftly in order to get clear of the opposition from the coffin box in stall 14.

Admittedly that's a task easier said than done, however provided jockey Shane Kelly has his wits about him, he should be up to making the vital early manoeuvre of switching from the outside, to the inside rail, on the Michael Dods-trained raider.

Two favourites of this column, Fashions Monty and Midlem Melody (3.35), clash in one of the feature races at Hexham, the Showcase Mares' Only Handicap Chase.

After winning with her head in her chest just eight days ago over track and trip, I suspect punters will latch onto Fashions Monty and install Ferdy's Murphy's representative as the warm favourite.

The problem with backing Fashions Monty revolves around the premise that she didn't beat much in the aforementioned victory, nor does she possess the same level of acceleration as last year's winner of the race, Midlem Melody, who is more of a specialist at the distance than her main rival.

Promising young amateur Ruth Davidson can put her 7lb riders' allowance to profitable use by landing the nap in the £10,000 Handicap Hurdle aboard Harry Hooly (1.55).

Injury kept Heather Graham's nine-year-old sidelined for the whole of the 2003/2004 season, but he showed no ill effects from being out of action for so long by running with credit to snatch third spot on his comeback at Sedgefield.

Harry Hooly is a stuffy so-and-so, consequently it is pretty safe assume to he'll have benefited significantly fitness-wise for that outing, setting up the distinct possibility of a welcome return to the winners' enclosure for Ruth and partner.

The Peter Hobbs stable look like they are going to have a field day at Kempton, where the yard have live chances of a treble via Mr Fluffy (1.10), Lord Henry (2.15), and Made In Japan (2.50).

Unquestionably the most exciting prospect of talented trio is Made In Japan, who makes his chasing bow at the tender age of just four. It's extremely unusual for such a young horse to have a crack at fences, a decision from which we can deduce that he has schooled like an old hand at home.

The fact that Hobbs has opted to try the bigger obstacles with Made In Japan, successful in this year's massively competitive Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is even more astonishing seeing as the normal route for such an individual would be to pitch for the 2005 Champion Hurdle.

Whether or not the gamble pays off, connections can always revert to hurdles with Made In Japan, the proverbial "good thing" to win the Racing Club Novices Chase as long as he gets round in one piece

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