DANBY WISKE-based permit holder Fred Kirby has a great chance of lifting the day's top prize at Leicester courtesy of his evergreen eleven-year-old, Forest Dante (1.20).

Fred, who trains the near veteran at High Whinholme Farm, midway between Catterick Bridge and Northallerton, doesn't have many horses, but they are generally well capable of paying their way.

Forest Dante is a classic example. Although he only made it to the track twice last term, he still managed to win and finish second.

Stage one of Kirby's master plan to target the £10,000 ladbroke.com Handicap Chase has already paid off as there are only a paltry four runners lining up in the near three-mile affair.

Sometimes such small fields can lead to a funereal early pace. But with none of the quartet involved possessing a killer burst of acceleration, I reckon the jockeys will all be keen to make the race a true test of stamina, which should suit Forest Dante's dour staying style.

In the preceding Mares Only Novices Handicap Hurdle, Lizzie Bathwick (12.50) bids to maintain her 100 per cent record for the season after inflicting a crushing defeat on her opponents at Uttoxeter 17 days ago.

Paul Keane's daughter of the highly-successful stallion, Glacial Storm, has a super National pedigree, a trait which shone through when she meted out a five-length drubbing to eight rivals at the nearby Midlands venue on her reappearance.

Folkestone-bound Alvaro (1.10) will not want for courage come the climax of the three-mile-and one-furlong Novices Handicap Chase.

Despite a couple of mistakes, plus getting tapped for toe turning for home at Chepstow in October, Bernard Llewellyn's raider stuck to his guns and galloped all the way to the line to secure second spot.

Given that sort of resolution against some less than hearty warriors, sheer guts could well win the day for Alvaro, who probably has most to fear from the Adrian Scholes-ridden Jazz Du Forez.

Despite the fact that betting in Banded races is considered by some as a sure-fire route to the poor house, provided punters are selective there is money to be made in such contests.

To try to prove the point I recommend a small wager on Larad (2.30) in the Bet Direct Stakes at Wolverhampton. Larad showed he handled the surface with an emphatic triumph on his latest visit to the course, and even though he now drops back a furlong in trip, might still be too good for a low-grade bunch.

* Accordion Etoile staked an early championship claim with an impressive success at Cheltenham as old hand Rooster Booster showed he still has plenty to give in fourth place on his return to action.

Time may tell that the 2003 Champion Hurdle hero was faced with an impossible task in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle in attempting to give 20lb to a stylish winner who is half his age.

Accordion Etoile certainly did everything with ease en route to beating Westender by three lengths.

John Cullen was always travelling with supreme confidence on the Paul Nolan-trained five-year-old.