FAST-IMPROVING two-year-old Paris Bell (2.00) can make it three-in-a-row by romping away with the Thomas Daly Nursery at Catterick this afternoon.

Tim Easterby's youngster appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary for the first two-thirds of the season, racking up a string of duck eggs prior to scoring a surprise 33-1 victory at Ayr in early October.

Paris Bell then travelled down to Newbury for a much stronger contest, but it didn't stop the son of Paris House completing a double with an indisputably facile second career success.

It seems as if the generally prevalent rain-softened ground has been responsible for the significant progress shown by the selection over the past weeks, a factor that is again very much in his favour for the six-furlong hat-trick bid.

Lambourn-based trainer Mick Channon shouldn't leave empty-handed with the likes of Master Robbie (3.00) sure to be in the shake-up for the £10,000 toteplacepot Handicap.

Having got his head in front seven times in 2003, Master Robbie's haul of one solitary win this term suggests the gelding might be on a downward spiral.

There could be more than a grain of truth in that assertion, but the five-year-old hasn't totally gone to the dogs.

In fact a reproduction of the form which earned fourth place at Newmarket on his penultimate start would theoretically suffice to take the money.

There are some good old-fashioned mud-larks in the Oliver Cromwell Handicap, none more so than Archie Babe (4.00), even though he may have to dig deep to see off one of his main rivals, Scott, who beat him easily at York last time out.

Although Scott had a few lengths to spare over Archie Babe on the Knavesmire, today's much more testing surface, together with an extra two furlongs to travel, might enable John Quinn's magnificent stable servant to exact sweet revenge.

Exeter serve up a tasty treat for jumps fans with the £65,000 Haldon Gold Cup attracting a field of two-mile chasers worthy of more high-profile venues such as Cheltenham or Aintree.

Twelve months ago Edredon Bleu strolled away with the cash, but Henrietta Knight's inmates are not firing on all cylinders, so Queen Mother Champion Chase hero, Azertyuiop, just gets the nod ahead of stable-companion, Kadarann.

I've felt for some time now that Jonny Portman's money-spinning mare, Annie Byers, has been screaming out for a try at three miles, therefore it would be churlish to do anything other than side with her in the 3.50.

Admittedly the £10,000 Handicap Chase is not quite that far, but the distance only falls short by 110 yards, which need not be of concern since the severity of the track means stamina-laden individuals enjoy a huge advantage.

It's quite safe to ignore Annie Byers' most recent run at Stratford, an easy course that patently didn't play to her strengths. Actually it could be a blessing in disguise, because the bookmakers might be fooled into a false sense of security and chalk up a starting price of 12-1 or better, odds which may ultimately prove to be much too generous.

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