SEDGEFIELD must survive a 7am inspection, however, if the waterlogged patches dry up sufficiently to allow racing to take place, Grattan Lodge (1.00) is a lively contender for the opening Doug Jemmeson "Lifetime In Racing" Handicap Hurdle.

Excuse the pun, but I don't suppose the normally conservative Doug will be having his "house" on Grattan Lodge in what looks on paper a very competitive contest.

But he will enjoy the honour of having a race run in his name, recognition for spending the majority of his working tenure as a much-respected blacksmith at Middleham where he still lives.

Grattan Lodge is trained by Howard Johnson, still cock-a-hoop following his big-race victory with the mighty grey gelding, Lord Transcend at Haydock on Saturday. Grattan Lodge is not in that league, nevertheless he's no mug either, winning his last two races at Newcastle and Carlisle.

The six-year-old will be going into unknown territory having only won over two-miles-and-a-half to date. Having said that he has always looked like an out-and-out stayer, plus is a young and improving sort taking on mainly older and far more exposed animals. Another trainer to hit the jackpot at Haydock was Ferdy Murphy, responsible for sending out Truckers Tavern to win the valuable Peter Marsh Chase.

With Ferdy's stable in such irresistible form, victory for Inn Antique (2.30) may prove a formality despite the seven-year-old having to shoulder a massive weight in the Tote "Top of the North" Novices' Hurdle.

Inn Antique has already notched one course and distance victory this term, ably handled by Davy Russell, who will most probably try and ride a waiting race on rain-soaked ground, guaranteed to be bottomless. In the later Durham Mares Only Novices' Hurdle, the battle for glory may well concern the two likely principals in the betting, Super Sammy (3.00) and Silken Pearls.

Although the latter has yet to have her colours lowered on the two occasions she has seen a racecourse, preference is still for Super Sammy, who foiled our 12-1 nap selection, Witch's Brew, at Newcastle last week with a gutsy fight-back having looked beaten at the final flight. I don't normally like tipping horses with a wide draw at Southwell, but in the case of Fig Leaf (12.45) emerging from stall 14, it is worth making an exception.

Ignore the latest duck-egg against Fig Leaf's name - she simply didn't handle the much faster surface on the Polytrack at Lingfield. Consider instead the four-year-old filly's previous effort when finishing a courageous track and trip runner-up to Bryan Smart's useful Fibresand performer, Creskeld.

The £12,500 Betdirect-sponsored Showcase Handicap, which carries the biggest purse of the afternoon, is fancied to go Newmarket's way via Greenwood's (2.20) saddlebag.

The James Eustace-trained speedster simply ran too badly to be true when comprehensively outgunned by a rejuvenated Maktavish last time out at the course.

We can all have our off days, and off his current lenient handicap Mark Greenwood is more than capable of bouncing back to something like his best.

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