JACK of all trades Virgin Soldier has the perfect profile to follow up his recent course and distance success at Sedgefield today.

Having already won on the Flat and over hurdles, the versatile Virgin Soldier became the latest member of a small and exclusive club to have mastered all three disciplines when he jumped like a stag to open his account over fences at the track 11 days ago.

The David Abell-owned seven-year-old now returns to the scene of his latest triumph for the Littlewoods Bet Direct Novices' Chase and all being well should complete a double provided he puts together another error-free round in the £5,800 contest.

John Wade is again generously sponsoring a series of Selling Handicap Hurdles, the latest of which is fancied to fall to Effie Gray (3.25).

The Peter Monteith-trained mare has been a bitter disappointment so far over timber, but there were signs that the penny has finally dropped when a close third last time out. More encouragement can be gleaned from the youth factor because at only four years of age Effie Gray still has time on her side compared to many of her much older and generally far more exposed rivals in the two-mile-and-one furlong affair.

Lynda Ramsden's Johnny Parkes (7.10) will be hoping to end his bout of seconditis at Haydock in the five-furlong Countrywide Freight Nursery.

Finishing runner-up is frustrating at the best of times, so for it to happen three times in a row must be positively infuriating. But it in no way reflects a lack of courage or determination and sooner rather than later he's going to get off the mark.

I can testify to the fact Pontefract didn't escape the current heatwave, having witnessed Only One Legend (6.50) run on strongly to finish fourth at the course over five furlongs on Wednesday.

A sluggish start, unfavourable wide draw, plus inadequate trip all contributed to his failure to make the first three.

Thankfully conditions could not be more different this evening when Tim Easterby's sprinter returns to his optimum trip of six furlongs on a straight course over which the draw has little effect.

Hopefully Only One Legend will be able to claim the Bernard Lloyd Handicap at Newmarket.

* Kieren Fallon continued in superb form at Haydock yesterday just 24 hours after landing his first six-timer with three victories each at Pontefract and Yarmouth.

Fallon had to work hard to get 8-11 chance Seeking Answers home in the Haydock Park Annual Badgeholders Club Maiden Auction but admitted he enjoyed a battling finish as he looked back on the previous day.

His favourite memory of the trio at Pontefract was the victory of High Action, who just got up by a head to deny the veteran Montecristo.

''I like a tough finish and Robert Winston is very hard to beat in a finish,'' he said. ''It was ding-dong to the line."

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.