KEITH REVELEY despatches Clouding Over (1.20) to Musselburgh in the hope that the five-year-old mare can open her account over fences.

The Lingdale-trained raider made a rather sluggish chasing debut when only fourth at Kelso three weeks ago, but there were a couple of valid excuses for what seemed to represent a fairly lack-lustre effort.

Clouding Over appeared to be a tad ring-rusty as she was returning from a long absence. Secondly, the normally dashing grey got behind in the early stages of the contest and, despite making some late headway, could never land a blow at the leaders.

There are reasonable grounds to believe the selection will now be a much more lively proposition, plus Keith has upped her a half-mile in trip for the Racing UK Novices Handicap Chase, extra distance which Clouding Over should technically relish.

Although Consett-based handler Wilf Storey has been fairly quiet of late, you can't keep a good man down for long and he has every right to expect a big run from Madge (1.55) in the Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

Madge was catching the principals hand over fist on a recent visit to Haydock, only to slightly spoil her chance by clouting the third flight from home. To her credit she recovered in time to snatch second spot, a pretty fair indication that the filly is not prepared to give up the ghost without a fight.

At the other end of the country, Iris's Gift (2.40), already the subject of significant ante-post support for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, bids to make it four-out-of-four over the bigger obstacles in Newbury's £32,000 Unicorn Homes Novices Chase.

"He's still not absolutely a fluent jumper, but I'm impressed with his engine come the end of his races," reported Tony McCoy, the regular rider of Jonjo O'Neill's stable star.

There's no question that Iris's Gift faces by far his biggest test to date this season in the three-mile thriller, but he's a class act and as long as the eight-year-old stays on his feet yet more high-profile success beckons.

At Wolverhampton's all-weather meeting Casablanca Minx (2.50) is out to prove last week's 33-1 surprise Lingfield success was no by means a fluke.

Although Heidi Sweeting's two-year-old wasn't expected to win that day, the stylish manner of her victory suggested there was plenty more to come from the fashionably bred daughter of Desert Story.

Considering the enormity of their starting price it was all very easy for jockey Eddie Creighton, who simply had to shake the reins at his partner in order for the combination to accelerate nicely clear of the chasing pack.

The reason for the improvement shown by Casablanca Minx undoubtedly stemmed from Heidi's decision to try the filly over seven-furlongs, a policy she continues for the Betdirect Freephone Nursery.

* Arcalis could bypass tomorrow's Pertemps 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle due to unsuitable ground at Newcastle.

County Durham handler Howard Johnson declared both the Supreme Novices Hurdle hero and Triumph Hurdle third Akilak at the final 48-hour stage.

But the former's owner Graham Wylie believes his five-year-old may bypass the two-mile contest.

He said: ''I think Howard is leaning towards running Akilak with the ground being on the soft side. We might be looking at the Bula for Arcalis instead.''

If Arcalis does not run, there will be a maximum of ten runners for the Grade One race.

Royal Shakespeare and Intersky Falcon, who finished third and fourth in the race 12 months ago, will try again.

The pair finished first and second respectively in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton earlier in the month.

Intersky Falcon is one of two runners for Jonjo O'Neill, who also has Hasty Prince.

Admiral, a narrow winner at Haydock last weekend, makes a quick reappearance for Richard Guest after his short-head verdict over Faasel.

The line-up is completed by former race winner and 'Fighting Fifth' standing dish The French Furze, Peter Bowen's Genghis, Overstrand, Self Defense and Buthaina.

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