LENNY LUNGO brings out one of his top guns at Carlisle today when Direct Access (1.30) makes his long-awaited reappearance in the D. A. Harrison Novices' Chase.

Direct Access was unbeaten in four races over hurdles last season, despite, in the words of Lungo: "Being 17.1 hands high and not looking anything like a hurdler."

Doubtless the giant six-year-old gelding will have been intensely schooled by Tony Dobbin prior to his fencing debut.

But you never know exactly how horses are going to react when they face the bigger obstacles for the first time on a racecourse. So it might be unwise to take a short price about Direct Access, who if all goes well is a potential Cheltenham Festival candidate come next March.

Lungo and Dobbin have excellent chances of completing a treble at the Cumbrian course via Sumthyne Special in the opening Bowness Novices' Hurdle, plus The Laird's Entry in the closing National Hunt Flat race.

Sumthyne Special galloped his rivals into a drunken stupor over track and trip at the last meeting, while Lungo's bumper horses are always to be feared, pointing positively to the prospects of The Laird's Entry.

The feature event on the card, the Tote Credit Club Lucius Chase, is going to be a real old-fashioned slogging match over a stamina-sapping 3 miles.

Ferdy Murphy's Granit d'Estruval is the class act of the field, although his crushing weight of 11-10 up Carlisle's mountainous home straight persuades me to oppose him with Casterbridge (2.30).

Owner's Eve and Tony Sweetman are hoping the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained nine-year-old doesn't repeat his Kelso blunder where he unshipped jockey Brian Harding with a most uncharacteristic jumping error.

"Casterbridge is best with give in the ground and going right-handed in a small field," said Tony. Since all of those criteria are being met today, he definitely fits the bill as the best each-way bet in the race.

Considering there's not much over a measly £3,000 on offer for the Pleisure Pub Group Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell, the contest has attracted a cracking 12-runner line-up.

Lord Of Love is sure to be all of the rage after his encouraging third placing behind Colombian Green at Hereford, a race which form-wise has worked out exceptionally well.

I'm not a naturally perverse sort of fellow, but rather than follow the pack my money will be on Enchanted Cottage (2.10), winner of an egg-and-spoon seller over two-and-a-half miles at the Sussex course 12 days ago.

OK, it was a shocker of a race won by Enchanted Cottage, but I think the dour staying hurdler is capable of improving a further 10lb over the extra two furlongs he now has to travel.

The winter season of all-weather racing gets into full swing at Southwell where the unbeaten Sea Vixen (2.50) will be many punters' idea of the day's banker.

Sir Mark Prescott's filly handled the fibresand surface admirably when making a winning debut at the Midlands venue last term, and has followed up in gritty fashion on turf at Brighton.

* JANUS (Colin Woods) finished third in the Racing Post/Coral sponsored top-tipster competition for the flat turf season which ended on Saturday, netting a handsome profit of £35.78 to a £1 level stake on all nap selections