TEN-TO-FOLLOW National Hunt horse Jass (2.00) shouldn't let the side down in Newcastle's two-mile Novices' Hurdle this afternoon.

Trainer Keith Reveley has high hopes for the progressive fiveyear- old, a ready winner for the Lingdale stable when sent to Kelso 12 days ago.

"He did the job nicely at Kelso and I think Jass will improve throughout the season," said Reveley, who is wasting no time in attempting to get some more prize-money in the bank.

Despite being a maiden both on the Flat and over jumps, Park's Prodigy (1.00) probably has his best chance to date of breaking his duck in the opening Juvenile Hurdle.

Middleham handler Patrick Haslam looks to have picked a soft target for his consistent three-year-old, twice placed over timber during a brief summer jumping campaign.

Haslam has given his gelding a 75-day break since the last of those two outings, a period doubtless spent putting a bit more beef on Park's Prodigy's wiry frame.

George Charlton's Singhalongtasveer (2.30) only has to trundle a few miles down the road from Stocksfield to contest the twoand- a-half-mile Handicap Hurdle.

Singhalongtasveer appeared to be in deep trouble at one stage of his latest start at Sedgefield, but to his credit he rallied strongly when asked the question by rider Jan Faltejsek. Such was the spirited late surge of the selection, he managed to snatch fourth from what was initially an extremely unpromising position.

Given today's Tyneside track presents a far stiffer test of stamina, Singhalongtasveer should have more breathing space to recover from any similar mid-race flat spots.

The closing Handicap Chase is little better than a seller and as such offers General Hardi (4.00) a fine opportunity to open his account over fences.

Despite the occasional decent showing in the novice hurdling sphere, John Wade's six-year-old was rather disappointing in that particular division of the sport.

It remains to be seen if General Hardi can up his game now the obstacles are much bigger, however there was a good deal of virtue in his most recent Hexham run. Having been held up to the rear, General Hardi made smooth headway to get on the heels of the leaders, only for lack of fitness to take its toll near the finish.

Wade was unlikely to have had his inmate fully tuned up for that outing, so with the benefit of the run under his belt, significant improvement is confidently predicted.