GRAHAM GIBBONS will need all of his guile to steer Champain Sands (3.10) home at Catterick this afternoon.

Eric Alston's eight-year-old is a notoriously tricky customer, requiring exaggerated hold-up tactics if he's to make the best of his undoubted ability.

At least Graham has an outside draw in stall 14, a position from which he should be able to cover up Champain Sands and prevent him from seeing too much daylight.

It does appear on paper a race with stacks of pace and if they do go off too hard, Gibbons and partner will hopefully come storming through at the finish when others are wilting.

The Christine Robinson 60th Birthday Nursery is a real teaser for punters since a plausible case can be made for all ten of the runners in the juvenile sprint.

Recent winning form is never a bad place to start in this type of puzzler and none are strutting their stuff better than Geoff Oldroyd's Firenza Bond (2.10).

Oldroyd's two-year-old collected in handsome fashion at today's venue in mid-October, posting a clear-cut all-the-way success over the minimum trip.

Firenza Bond will be sailing into uncharted territory when the son of Captain Rio enters the sixth and final furlong.

But I don't believe he'll be found wanting for stamina.

Having been out of action for well over a year, Hernando's Boy (4.10) was entitled to perform relatively poorly at York on his longawaited comeback outing.

Keith Reveley's gelding kept tabs on the leaders for much of the time on the Knavesmire, but when the principals stepped on the gas he was soon toiling.

Reveley clearly hadn't been hard on Hernando's Boy in preparation for the return, thus the sixyear- old's fitness was found wanting against battle-hardened rivals.

It's only an educated guess, but the selection is a 120-rated winner over hurdles and therefore capable of huge improvement in the closing mile-and-three-quarter Handicap.

Money-wise Exeter's William Hill Gold Cup Chase is by far and away the most valuable prize of the day, although you wouldn't think it from the pathetic turnout.

Only five runners for a £70,000 event simply isn't good enough, not that the trainer of Fair Along, Philip Hobbs, will care two hoots about the dismal lack of opposition.

Fair Along showed himself to be a top drawer chaser via a sparkling hat-trick last term, jumping with pin-point precision over some of the most challenging fences in the land.

Granted that same level of enthusiasm and verve, Richard Johnson's mount might well be able to defy top-weight on a track which should play to his strengths.

■ Catterick's National Hunt fixtures resume on December 5.

■ Ollie Magern was yesterday basking in the glory of his brilliant victory in the Charlie Hall Chase.

The nine-year-old was out in the open enjoying the dry autumn weather following his second victory in three seasons in the Wetherby feature.

His trainer Nigel Twiston- Davies reported the horse, who has been blighted by unsoundness, to have come out of Saturday's race in fine shape.

He's fine. He's out in the field looking very happy,'' he said.

Twiston-Davies confirmed Ollie Magern would probably reappear in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 24, in which he finished fourth to Kauto Star last November.

We are very pleased with him and I think he'll go to Haydock next,'' added the Naunton-based handler.