FERDY MURPHY has always held L'Antartique (2.20) in the highest regard, a heady opinion that will be put to the acid test at Wetherby this afternoon.

The Grade 2 £28,000 Brit Novices' Hurdle is the objective for L'Antartique, who represents the value each-way bet against certain red-hot favourite, Neptune Collonges, from the all-conquering Paul Nicholls stable.

According to the official ratings, Murphy's gelding has plenty to find with Neptune Collonges, however the fact L'Antartique takes a significant step up in distance could easily help him bridge the gap.

There was certainly no cribbing his latest victory at Doncaster, where once asked the question the six-year-old shot clear of his toiling rivals to record a facile 15-length victory.

The feature race on the card is the totepool Towton Novices' Chase, an event in which Halcon Genelardais (3.25) is hard to oppose.

Alan King had been itching to try his French-bred import over the bigger obstacles, a gut feeling which proved spot-on as Halcon Genelardais made a winning chase debut at Warwick in January.

The form of the contest looks outstanding and unless Julius Caesar can pull something out of the bag, the big prize seems bound to return to Alan's Wiltshire stronghold.

Tipping racehorses is an inexact science at the best of times, but when faced with an in-and-out character such as Better Days (2.50), the task of accurate predication becomes nigh on impossible.

Inconsistency is Better Days' middle name, yet if he reproduces the level of ability he showed when beaten a cat's whisker on a recent visit to Carlisle, then he'd be the proverbial "good thing" for the totesport Handicap Chase.

Best bet at Uttoxeter is Haditovski (3.15), who heartbreakingly as far as this column is concerned was collared close home when carrying the nap vote at Newcastle 17 days ago.

At risk of talking through my pocket, for once I reckon Graham Lee rode an ill-judged race at the Tyneside venue, using too much petrol too soon aboard Haditovski, seemingly clutching all of the aces until emptying after the last.

Today's trip of two-and-a-half-miles is admittedly a worry on the stamina stakes for John Mackie's charge, however provided Paddy Brennan rides with patience in mind, his extremely well-handicapped partner can do the rest.

The remarkable 12-year-old Dancing Mystery (3.00) embarks on career outing number 160 in Lingfield's showpiece, the five-furlong £20,000 betdirect.co.uk.

Eric Wheeler's dasher should by rights be collecting his thoroughbred pension, but the veteran 21-time winner continues to defy old age, a point proved by his narrow defeat in a similar-standard contest at Southwell late last month.

A final word must go to Sunday's Musselburgh meeting, which has enticed a good few southern-based horses to cross the border seeking to plunder the decent swag on offer.

Messrs Pipe and Nicholls send two big guns, Nippy Des Mottes and Acambo, for the £30,000 Johns Smith's Scottish County Hurdle, hopefully though they'll return empty-handed courtesy of Malton's Crow Wood (3.25).

Crow Wood, a 104-rated middle-distance handicapper on the Flat, has made a good start to his National Hunt campaign, which, added to the prevailing fast ground, could make all the difference to John Quinn's star.

Nick Gifford is planning to get another run into Straw Bear before Cheltenham.

The Findon trainer believes a third run, following wins at Leicester and Folkestone, would put the five-year-old, owned by JP McManus, in good stead for one of the two novice hurdles at the Festival.

''We tried to drop him in at Folkestone (on Tuesday) and educate him.

"He's done it a bit cosily and travelled on the bridle all the way round,'' said Gifford.

''He might run at Exeter a week on Sunday or Newbury, depending on what the ground is - he needs a bit more experience.

''We are thinking of Cheltenham, obviously, but he needs another race to prepare him for what's ahead," said Gifford.

''We'll leave it until later to decide which race to go for.

''My fellow is better on soft ground and will go on good, as long as it's not quick.

''For his two runs so far he's gone round on the bridle. He's not really been challenged except at the last at Folkestone.

''I'd like to run him in a bigger field with a stronger pace. He hasn't had horses jumping across him yet and I think another run will do him good.''

Straw Bear is top-priced 12-1 for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 16-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

Mark Pitman is hoping Dempsey can book his ticket to Cheltenham for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a big run at Sandown today.

The eight-year-old will shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb in the rearranged Victor Chandler Chase after the weights went up 10lb at the overnight stage.

Sponsors Victor Chandler think he will take all the beating though after installing him as their 5-2 favourite.

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