WITH Kelso's meeting hanging in the balance due to frost it might pay to take heed of Huntingdon-bound Royal Beluga (1.20).

Trainer Tom George, who had a winner courtesy of Majlis at Wincanton yesterday, thinks plenty of Royal Beluga, a lightly-raced five-year-old who was in need of the outing when fifth to Bow Strada at Taunton a fortnight ago.

That run will have blown the majority of the cobwebs from his lungs and he's sure to strip a far fitter individual for his bid to win the extended two mile Letherby Caterers Handicap Hurdle.

Former multiple New Zealand winner Kandy Four (2.25) is finding life much tougher in the Northern Hemisphere.

Even taking into account the occasionally protracted acclimatisation process, Kandy Four must be testing trainer Andy Crook's patience, having failed to open his UK account despite numerous attempts both over hurdles and fences.

But "every dog has his day" in the racing game, and Kandy Four, a close-up third at Doncaster recently, might have finally found a winning opportunity in the Lewis Badger Handicap Chase.

If Kelso survives previous track experience could be the deciding factor in most valuable contest on the card, the £9,500 Morebattle Hurdle.

The uphill and down dale nature of the topography tends to unbalance a lot of horses, but there were no such problems for Hunters Tweed (2.05) when successful over track and trip last term.

Weight and sticky ground were probably responsible for the downfall of Hunters Tweed at Wetherby last time, and he is fancied to bounce back and lower the colours of certain hot-favourite, Benbyas.

Tony Dobbin has a cracking book of rides, amongst which both Ballystone (2.35) and Donnybrook (3.05) have leading prospects.

The former won pulling a cart at Catterick, while Donnybrook has dropped to a ludicrously low handicap mark after a string of poor performances.

On the plus side his York-based handler Bob Woodhouse was back in the winners' enclosure at Southwell yesterday, and Donnybrook takes a significant drop in class.

Finally to Wolverhampton where last week's losing 14-1 nap selection, Al Mabrook (1.45), has another crack at recording his first success over a trip of in excess of nine furlongs.

Al Mabrook didn't run too badly, finishing third after interference on the home turn. For my money Kevin Ryan's gelding is definitely worth another chance on a track which probably suits him marginally better than Southwell.

Leave the £12,000 Bet Direct sprint to in-form Milton Bradley, strongly fancied to knock in a one-two via Nineacres (2.45) and Juwwi