AFTER suffering the agony of a short-head defeat on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle three weeks ago, Wetherby-bound Silver Knight (12.55) should make no mistake in this afternoon's Harry Atkinson Beginners' Chase.

Although Tim Easterby's charge has picked up a couple of novices' hurdles to date, such is his size and scope, the five-year-old's long-term future was always going to be over fences.

So highly does jockey Russ Garritty rate Silver Knight, he was reported to be shell-shocked when the combination went down by the minimum margin to Oliver Sherwood's Surprising at the Cumbrian venue.

As a result of that run I'm sure it'll be a leaner, meaner, and much sharper Silver Knight on view this afternoon, likely to be in perfect shape to collect the £6,000 race en route to bigger and better things at other grade one venues such as Cheltenham and Aintree.

Another of Easterby's principal hopes for the current jumps season, Kentucky Blue (1.25), makes his much-awaited debut in the Countryside Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Kentucky Blue was head and shoulders above the majority of today's rivals when operating on the flat this summer. Such individuals do not always transfer their ability to the National Hunt arena, however, in this case I do believe Tim's imposing raider will take all of the beating.

As predicted, yesterday's headline horse Calatagan did the business at Sedgefield for the ever-reliable Malton handler Malcolm Jefferson.

And Malcolm could be in for a swift follow-up should Bellefleur (12.25) oblige in the opening Fox And Hounds Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old mare not only has bits and pieces of promising previous form, she was also well-backed in the betting ring last time out.

That weight of money suggested there was a good deal of confidence behind the selection and although she failed to land the gamble, it might well be turn out to second time lucky for those punters willing to have another dip.

Not for the first time Middleham ace Patrick Haslam has put together a formidable all-weather team spearheaded by the likes of Maunby Raver (1.45), who makes the long journey down to Lingfield for the Littlewoods Bet Direct Nursery.

Maunby Raver has already drawn blood once on the sand, grinding out a victory in gritty fashion on the tenth of this month. The son of Piccolo has been raised 6lb for that win, but with the up-and-coming apprentice rider, Rory Moore, taking a handy 7lb off his back further success seems assured.

Macaroni Gold, bidding to complete a quick-fire hat-trick for Newmarket trainer Willie Jarvis, is certain to be a very short price in the finale.

One rule of profitable punting is always to seek out the best value and I prefer to advise an each-way investment on Astromancer (3.30). Astromancer holds Macaroni Gold on an earlier line of form and in addition his stamina-packed pedigree indicates he will relish the step up to two miles in the Sky Text Handicap. For the nap I am relying on the brilliant young conditional jockey Simon Thomas to prevail aboard Diamonds Will Do (2.45) in the Winning Post Bookmakers Hurdle at Chepstow.

Diamonds Will Do rarely fails to give anything other than 110 per cent, plus has a sizeable fitness advantage over the majority of the opposition.