MAKE mud-slogging Sir Ruscott (1.00) your number one bet in the opener at Sedgefield today.

There are three recent winners in the field, Agincourt, Chief Chippie and No Gimmicks, but none of that trio can boast the level of ability shown by Sir Ruscott at Newcastle when fifth to the highly-rated staying prospect The Phair Crier.

It was a performance smacking of an animal on an upward curve achieved in an altogether above-average novices' contest over three miles at the Tyneside track.

Today he drops down to Class E company, a factor well worth remembering especially as the nap selection has previously proved his ability to handle the extreme conditions likely to be encountered in the three-and-a-half-mile Hartlepool Handicap Hurdle.

Andrew Parker's D J Flippance (2.00) is fancied to make a successful transition from hurdles to fences in the Ramside Catering Maiden Chase.

D J Flippance has run a couple of fair races over timber at Kelso this term, however chasing has always looked to be his forte and with the experienced Brain Storey in the saddle a winning debut over the bigger obstacles is not hard to envisage in a weak event.

Lenny Lungo is threatening to unleash some of his big guns at the weekend, but in the meantime little fish may be sweet courtesy of Full Irish (2.30) in the £5,000 Top Of the North Novices' Hurdle.

Having won his first two starts this season, Full Irish had himself nicely lined up for the hat-trick when taking the lead approaching the second last flight at Newcastle in November.

Unfortunately that was just about end of story because Tony Dobbin's mount then bulldozed the hurdle precipitating a crashing fall and handing the race on a plate to Mary Reveley's Man Murphy.

The latter has since emphatically franked the form at Carlisle and provided Full Irish can stay on his feet this time victory seems well within his reach.

The High Etherly Handicap Chase over two miles will not take much winning and it might therefore pay to take a chance with Jamorin Dancer (3.30).

Norman Mason's seven-year-old was beaten in a selling race over hurdles at Catterick on Saturday, none the less he's still in better shape than most of his out-of-form rivals on this his first try over fences.

Southwell-bound Polish Pilot (3.40) is going the other way, reverting to hurdles after a spell steeple-chasing.

One could argue that Southwell's continental style hurdles are more akin to mini-fences and they certainly shouldn't be any bother to Polish Pilot, far from disgraced when third to the classy Historg in a Novices' Chase at Market Rasen last time out.

Apprentice Handicaps are not normally sound betting mediums, nevertheless there are always exceptions to the rule and Eyes To the Right (1.50) is worth a small wager at Lingfield.

Young Fran Ferris has been making quite a name for himself over the winter on the sand and Eyes To the Right, who appeared to be a shade unlucky last time out, could be another for the rising Irish star.

l Richard McGrath was yesterday handed the chance to land his second big handicap chase of the new year.

Fresh from his victory on Turgeonev in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, he has been booked to partner Valigan for Scottish trainer Len Lungo in Saturday's Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster for which his mount is 7-1 co-second favourite with Chandlers.

The Irishman, who has ridden 26 winners this season, gets the mount as Tony Dobbin - who partnered Valigan to victory at Musselburgh recently - is going to Ayr on Saturday to ride unbeaten stable-companion The Bajan Bandit in an EBF Novice Hurdle qualifier.

''Richard McGrath has been booked to ride Valigan,'' Lungo said. ''But he isn't the most consistent horse so we are never sure where we are with him.

''He won a weak race at Musselburgh and we're hoping the ground isn't too soft at Doncaster.''

Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle hope The Bajan Bandit, one of last season's top National Hunt Flat race performers, will be bidding to make it three wins from three starts over hurdles.

He has not raced since November but Lungo said: ''He was down at Cheltenham when the meeting was cancelled so we gave him an easy week after his long journey but he is 'A1'.

''He jumped three flights of hurdles this morning as he hadn't run for a while and he absolutely pinged them.

''After Saturday he might go to Kelso on March 1 as a prep race for the SunAlliance - he isn't in the two-mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham as he is a stayer.

''But if Cheltenham got fast, on the previous Saturday there is the final of the EBF series at Sandown and that might be an option. He isn't qualified yet he needs to finish in the first four on Saturday so hopefully he will do that.''