SLOPPY jumping cost Frantic Tan any chance of winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December.

But it could be a different story in the Showcase Handicap at the course this afternoon, provided he doesn't make any similar blunders.

Frantic Tan was going as well as any in the field until he gave the 19th fence an almighty clout, which effectively put paid to the mouth-watering prospect of bagging the £43,500 first prize in the annual Coral bookmakers sponsored marathon.

Unfortunately connections of Frantic Tan (2.40) will have to settle for about thirty grand less if he outstays his nine opponents in today's three-mile-two-furlong chase, but it's still not a bad purse for a run-of-the-mill midweek meeting.

One thing is for sure, the eleven-year-old gelding has the form in the book to win the race because two seasons ago he was even considered to be a lively outsider for the Cheltenham Gold Cup following a brace of sparkling successes at Newbury and Haydock.

Sadly the wheels came off big-time last year when he inexplicably went to pieces and subsequently left trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies to join Denis Caro.

To his credit Denis does appear to have rejuvenated Frantic Tan, who as a consequence of his poor run of results has plummeted down the ratings to a winning handicap mark.

Jonjo O'Neill, fresh from a fabulous weekend four-timer, looks as if he's in business yet again with Tardar (2.05), who lines up for the Free Press Novices Hurdle.

Tardar won no less than seven times on the Flat in his native New Zealand prior to being imported to the UK.

And Jonjo has wasted little time in switching the six-year-old's talents to the National Hunt arena, placing him to collect a course and distance maiden hurdle with almost ludicrous ease last time out.

Although the winning margin was only two lengths that day, had jockey Liam Cooper not sat motionless throughout the final half-mile, Tardar would probably have won by the length of Darlington's main thoroughfare, High Row.

Southwell stages the only other surviving fixture following the abandonment of Market Rasen due to patches of false ground.

One-time king of the Fibresand David Barron doesn't often leave the Midlands venue empty-handed, so it'll be no surprise if Massey (12.45) makes his presence felt in the opening race on the card, the £12,500 Littlewoods Conditions Stakes.

Barron's North Yorkshire-based raider has finished second on two of his last four starts, and apart from J M W Turner is arguably best in at the weights for the five-furlong dash.

Leave the nap to recent course winner, Anthony Ebeneezer (3.30), scheduled to be partnered by the top 5lb apprentice jockey, Frankie McDonald, in the mile-and-three-furlong Bet Direct Handicap.

Anthony Ebeneezer is something of a late developer, but now that the penny has finally dropped, plenty more success beckons for the son of Hurricane Sky.

* Carlisle's meeting tomorrow could be in doubt as the track is covered in snow.

Clerk of the course Jonnie Fenwicke-Clennell reports that a couple of inches of snow have fallen and he is now planning to hold an inspection at a time to be announced.

He said: ''We are covered in snow. The forecast is not very good, we possibly have more snow showers on the way and it's not thawing.

''We are having an inspection and we will confirm later when that will be.''

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