WETHERBY'S Castleford Chase offers Lennon (3.05) the chance to improve an already magnificent career strike-rate.

If, as expected, Howard Johnson's horse scoops the £30,000 showpiece, it'll be Lennon's ninth win from 18 career starts, a record few thoroughbreds can hope to match.

Even for such a successful individual it hasn't all been plain sailing for the Graham Wylie-owned gelding, as Kempton favourite backers will testify.

The race with the terrible twist in its tail took place 67 days ago when Lennon held a big lead approaching the final fence, only to toss away the spoils with a bad blunder.

Despite being beaten, the handicapper has made life difficult for the selection by putting him up 6lbs, nonetheless defying topweight remains a distinct possibility The Tony Dickinson Novices' Chase, commemorating one of North Yorkshire's most famous racing clans, looks a straight match between Mr Strachan and Kruguyrova (3.05).

Using the official ratings as a strict guide Mr Strachan should by rights win, but on the other hand Kruguyrova's recent Plumpton success was hugely impressive.

Charlie Egerton's four-year-old made short work of a classy field on that occasion, putting some highlyrated opponents to the sword.

The prospect of such a young mare making a name for herself in the chasing ranks is very exciting, and I don't believe Kruguyrova is going to let the side down.

The presence of Akarem (3.35) in the closing two-mile Novices' Hurdle could spark a significant gamble on Karl Burke's versatile dualpurpose performer.

A rattling good middle-distance handicapper on the level, Akarem prevailed in a common canter when switched to the sticks at Kelso in November.

Kempton's top-of-the-bill, the Desert Orchid Chase, features the luckless Ashley Brook (2.25), who but for training problems would surely have won many more times.

Kevin Bishop's fragile nine-yearold has battled intermittent injury for much of the past seven years, but when on-song he really is a class act.

Although Ashley Brook was beaten by Voy Por Ustedes in Sandown's Tingle Creek, there's no reason to suggest he can't get revenge on the revised terms.

The near three-and-three-quarter- mile Welsh Grand National sees the 2006 hero of the day, Halcon Genelardais (2.05), return to defend his crown.

It's a crying shame that the sidelined Wayne Hutchinson is not available to take the ride again, however Christian Williams represents an able deputy.

Such extremes of distance require endless reserves of stamina, a quality Alan King's hardy gelding has already proved is the ace in his particular pack.