There's a £25,000 bonus for any horse that wins the Collins Stewart National Spirit Hurdle over two and a half miles at Fontwell today then goes on to be placed in the stayers' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Although there's a disappointing turn-out given that bonus, there's no surprise to see Guillaime Macaire's Jair du Cochet in the line-up and it looks as though he will take all the beating.

The French runner, who bids to emulate fellow "countryman" Baracouda, who took this race last year, might not yet be quite in that league. But he's a progressive young stayer who has time on his side.

The five-year-old was most impressive when beating the progressive Telemoss by nine lengths at Haydock last time and the drop back to this shorter trip isn't a concern.

Macaire has a tremendous strike rate with his runners in this country and his Mont Misere could go well, despite a double penalty, in the MJT Financial Novices' Chase over the same trip.

However, the selection is Martin Pipe's Jour J, a French import, who ran out the easy winner over this trip on soft ground at Warwick last time.

On that occasion he jumped and travelled far too well for his rivals and had plenty in hand of his nearest pursuer at the line. He's the type his stable do really well with and it will not be a surprise to see him making all.

Richard Rowe's Half The Pot has contributed half of his stable's eight- winner hurdle haul so far this season and he can notch his fifth consecutive win in the two mile and six furlong Showcase handicap hurdle.

Although he won over two miles and two furlongs at this course last time, he has winning form over further and an 8lb rise for his latest easy win doesn't look especially harsh.

Rowe can be on the mark half an hour earlier with the mainly consistent Dick McCarthy in the handicap chase over three miles and two furlongs.

He ran badly last time but his previous efforts around this trip over fences would give him solid claims in what is only a very ordinary handicap.

At Wolverhampton, Base Line looks a very interesting runner now he's back up in trip in division two of the extended nine-furlong handicap.

This dual winner on sand last year hasn't been disgraced of late at Southwell and he's certainly on a very fair mark at present. This race isn't going to take too much winning and he's preferred to Spanish Star.

Division one is a much more open contest and one which could fall to Sue Wilton's Sharp Steel, who has been running consistently well of late on the Flat and, most recently, over hurdles.

David Barron has been a trainer to side with this winter and his Two Steps To Go can make it three out of three on Fibresand by lifting the Bet Direct Tax Free Betting Handicap over a mile.

At this course last time he showed splendid battling qualities to beat Solomon's Mine and, although the latter is weighted to finish closer, it will be a surprise if those placings are reversed.

l Sedgefield are hopeful of tomorrow's meeting going ahead after conditions at the course improved.

The track had been waterlogged in places but the recent dry spell has helped the ground to improve and clerk of the course James Hutchinson is hoping the fixture can go ahead.

He said: ''The going for Tuesday is now soft and it's heavy in the last two furlongs. It's improved a bit.

''We are quite hopeful of going ahead but we need it to stay dry until then. We just have showers forecast at the moment.''