THE BOOKMAKERS could be caught on the back-foot from the word go if as expected Bergamo gets punters off to a flying start by winning the opener at Catterick this afternoon.

The Leeds Selling Hurdle is by definition a race of poor quality and by rights Bergamo (2.05) should collect the two-mile contest doing handsprings. Unfortunately he's not the most straightforward of conveyances, which has doubtless prompted Brian Ellison to drop his eight-year-old in class.

Such ploys don't always work the oracle, however according to the official ratings Ellison's raider, beaten only a short-head in a non-seller two starts ago, is in a completely different league to his rivals, the majority of whom are well past their respective sell-by dates.

Richard Guest is generally loathed to risk injury by running horses on quick ground, so his decision to send Moscow Leader (2.40) back to the well speaks volumes for the six-year-olds' chances in the following Novices' Handicap Chase.

Guest reported his charge was totally unsuited by the dead surface at Hereford last time out and Moscow Leader is far better judged on his previous back-to-back victories at Kelso and Wetherby.

Alan King is enjoying his best-ever campaign, bolstered by the likes of Trouble At Bay, in with a real shout of capturing the much sought after Triumph Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

At much lower level, although equally important to the owners who pay the bills, Alleged Slave (5.10) could well be on the mark for King's in-form team at Bangor in the Cloy Novices' Handicap Chase.

Alleged Slave was a desperately unlucky loser at Hereford recently when mugged right on the line by Richard Johnson aboard Adalie. King's representative appeared to all intents and purposes to be home and hosed when storming miles clear four fences from the finish, sadly though he lost concentration and wavered, probably as result of having to race out on his own for so long.

I now anticipate a slight change of tactics in order to prevent a similar scenario occurring, preferably hanging on to the gelding's head and staying with the pack for just a little bit longer to prevent him getting "lonely" up front.

Patience will be required to wait for the nap selection, North Point (5.20), due to take part in the final event at Chepstow, the Letherby & Christopher Handicap Hurdle.

North Point, a once-useful middle-distance handicapper on the level for Alan Jarvis, has adapted well to hurdling for new trainer, Roger Curtis, winning two of his four outings over timber last term.

Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence in favour of North Point revolves around the fact he defied a lengthy racecourse absence to score on his jumps' debut at Ludlow a smidgen over 12 months ago.

If the selection is to prevail at the first time of asking this season, he'll have to overcome a 210-day break from action, but since North Point's past record suggests this is not an insurmountable obstacle, the omens are particularly positive for Jamie Goldstein's partner.

* Venn Ottery is back on course for a fairytale bid for glory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase after regaining the winning thread at Hereford yesterday.

The nine-year-old was recording his fourth victory from five starts inside three weeks when giving upwards of 24lb to his rivals in the Grand National Day At Hereford Racecourse Handicap Chase.

Since leaving his owner/breeder Oliver Carter's yard less than three months ago after 23 straight defeats to join leading trainer Paul Nicholls, Venn Ottery has only been beaten once and that was on unsuitable going at Market Rasen on Sunday, but he returned to his best with a superb performance under 12st 5lb.

Ruby Walsh was happy to bide his time as Kind Sir set out to make all but the writing was on the wall when Venn Ottery ranged alongside after the third last fence and powered away to score by 16 lengths.

''Oliver's dream is back on. He couldn't handle the sticky ground at Market Rasen. He loves fast ground and jumped very well today. We think he could be better left-handed,'' said Nicholls's assistant Jeremy Young. ''He was 13lb well in as he's run off 117 today and goes up to 130, so I suppose he was entitled to win like that.

''He won well at Newbury. The ground was obviously against him at Market Rasen and he's won well today.''

Carter, 85, has got 1,000-1 Venn Ottery for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Nicholls stable are happy to go along with the owner even though they have two other runners in second favourite Azertyuiop and Cenkos, third in the race for the last two years.