A return to hurdles from fences is fancied to work the oracle for Strong Tartan at Hexham tomorrow.

Andrew Parker's gelding, well regarded as a youngster, remains useful as a 10-year-old.

He goes to Hexham after a recent outing in a hunters' chase at Ayr, where he was going well until a bad mistake at the 12th fence knocked the stuffing out of him and he was eventually pulled-up.

Winner of two handicap chases in the summer, Strong Tartan is able to race off a mark 9lb lower tomorrow as he reverts to hurdles. He looks an interesting runner.

Nicky Richards has his horses in fine form and the Greystoke trainer can complete a double with Rocket Bleu and Bob The Piler.

Rocket Bleu has won two of his three starts this season and continues to progress.

He will be hard to beat in the gg.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, with Tony Dobbin in the saddle, and Rocket Bleu is awarded my Nap vote.

Bob The Piler is not the most straightforward of horses, but all the same he makes plenty of appeal in the GG Media Handicap Hurdle.

Beaten eight lengths into second place by Merryvale Man at Newcastle last time, after being sent off the odds-on favourite, Bob The Piler now steps up an extra four furlongs. The longer distance is expected to bring out the best in him.

Mick Easterby's horses are in good nick and I fancy The Nomad to deliver for the Sheriff Hutton trainer in the Metrocentre Novices' Chase.

A fairly useful hurdler, The Nomad won over fences at this course last time. He looks to have more on his plate tomorrow, but is open to further improvement.

At Wincanton, Dempsey bids to get his career back on track in the Wessex Waste Novices' Chase.

A hat-trick of wins earlier this season confirmed Mark Pitman's gelding to be among the most progressive of hurdlers, but he took a crashing fall at Kempton on Boxing Day in a valuable race, won by Contraband.

Pitman has given Dempsey plenty of time to recover from that tumble and has found a suitable opportunity tomorrow to return him to the fray.

Under The Sand should not be overlooked in the Mirage Signs Beginners' Chase.

Although he remains a chancey betting proposition, having already taken two falls over fences, Philip Hobbs' charge is surely capable of better, having won both on the Flat and over hurdles. In a modest contest, he is given another chance to shine.

At Lingfield, not an all-weather Flat fixture, but a third jumping meeting tomorrow, Eau Pure is selected to clinch the Marsh Green Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old, trained by Gary Moore, has developed into a talented and consistent peformer over timber. This looks a good opportunity for her to gain her third win of the campaign.

Also worth noting at the Surrey track are the promising Duncliffe (2.40) and recent winner Barton Nic (3.10).

Tomorrow's tips:

Hexham

2.00 Rocket Bleu (Nap), 2.30 Strong Tartan, 3.00 The Nomad, 3.30 Naunton Brook, 4.00 Hallrule, 4.30 Bob The Piler, 5.00 Bygone.

Wincanton

2.20 Dempsey, 2.50 Under The Sand, 3.20 Regal Ali, 3.50 Inigo Jones, 4.20 Kingston-Banker, 4.50 Five Pence.

Lingfield

2.10 He's The Guvnor, 2.40 Duncliffe, 3.10 Barton Nic, 3.40 It's Only Polite, 4.10 Eau Pure, 4.40 Double Agent, 5.10 Ismahaan.

There are no other meetings tomorrow.

Updated: 10:09 Saturday, April 03, 2004