A FRESH pair of legs is never a bad thing at this late stage of the National Hunt campaign and Jontys'lass (2.30) fits neatly into that category at Newcastle.

Andy Crook's Middleham raider has only seen a racetrack once so far this season, finishing mid-pack in red-hot Sandown contest 33 days ago.

Winless throughout 2007, Jontys'lass has slipped to a mark which makes her a potentially attractive each-way bet in the Saltwell Signs Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle.

Sure to be a whole heap fitter for her pipe-opener down south, Crook's daughter of Tamure should appreciate the drop in class for the Tyneside two-anda- half-miler.

Sloppy jumper Ocarina (3.05) has tossed away two possible victories, firstly at Market Rasen in December when unseating his rider two out when in second spot.

The error-prone six-year-old gelding then compounded the misery for connections on a trip to Ayr by hitting the deck three fences from the jamstick.

On that occasion Ocarina was upsides and moving equally as well as the eventual winner, Almure du Lia, which made it an even more bitter pill to swallow.

Of course investing on such horses is always a worrying process, but steeple-chasing is in any case a major risk business and he might be worth one more chance.

Sue Smith's stable is going great guns, which in itself is a strong pointer to the prospects of Mill Side (4.15) in the St James Place Novices' Hurdle.

At eight years of age Millside was making a belated career debut in January, nonetheless that didn't stop him running a blinder to nab third-place money.

Even better news for supporters of Millside revolves around the fact that the run was at today's venue, meaning he won't need a map and compass to find his way round.

Richard Guest's yard went ominously quiet soon after Christmas, but those two months in the doldrums now appear to be over.

Red Scally (4.50) was one of his inmates to redress the balance, scooting home at Fakenham a fortnight ago with plenty of fuel left in the tank.

Although that was a Beginners' Chase, whereas he now tackles a handicap, it doesn't mean to say Red Scally won't follow-up in the hands of Paddy Aspell.

Finally we try our luck at Wolverhampton where Optical Illusion (7.20) looks different gear to his rivals in the sevenfurlong Handicap.

A superbly-bred son of Theatrical, he's never actually delivered for either of his previous trainers, Ed Dunlop or Ian Semple.

Whilst disappointing, every cloud possesses a silver lining and Optical Illusion's rating has plunged 18lbs, which in my book is penalty kick stuff for new handler, Linda Perratt.