Cardinal Venture bids to complete a hat-trick of wins on the sand tomorrow and prove that he is as effective at Southwell as he is at Wolverhampton.

Trained at Hambleton by Kevin Ryan for well-known Ryedale businessman Tony Fawcett, Cardinal Venture goes for the feature race, the Littlewoods Bet Direct Showcase Handicap over a mile.

The five-year-old's last two starts on an all-weather surface, both at Wolverhampton, have resulted in two pillar-to-post wins. Now he gets the opportunity to lead from start to finish on a different track.

Robert Winston has the mount on Cardinal Venture, who is fancied to take plenty of catching.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison can lift the opening spoils at Southwell with Court Of Appeal.

The six-year-old was beaten less than a length by Tilla at Catterick last month. If he reproduce that turf form on sand, he will surely play a big hand in the littlewoodspoker.com Apprentice Handicap. The promising Rory Moore takes the mount.

Moore, good value for his 7lb claim, can also score on recent winner Mr Mischief, tomorrow's Nap selection, in the Royal Flush Jackpot Claiming Stakes.

Snow's Ride, another recent winners, can follow-up in the littlewoodspoker.com Handicap over two miles.

Over the sticks at Catterick, Minster Glory goes for his sixth win off the reel in the Richmondshire Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Mick Easterby's gelding, in the twilight of his career at the age of 12, has recently won two steeplechases and three hurdle races in rapid succession.

Given his current well-being and sky-high confidence, Minster Glory deserves every consideration tomorrow, but it is worth bearing in mind that he has now been re-handicapped and so faces his toughest task to date.

Tony Dobbin, badly bruised in a fall at Haydock on Saturday, is expected to return to action at Catterick, where his rides include Benrajah in the Document Express Limited Anniversary Handicap Chase.

Martin Todhunter's six-year-old, already a winner this season, will relish every yard of this three and threequarter miles and I expect him to triumph.

Dobbin will also be aboard the Len Lungo-trained Armaguedon in the Streetlam 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

A high-class bumper peformer last season, Armaguedon is expected to prove equally effective over hurdles this winter and is among many racing fans' horses to follow.

Wednesday's tips:

Southwell

1.00 Court Of Appeal, 1.30 Philly Dee, 2.00 Snow's Ride, 2.30 Cardinal Venture, 3.00 Mr Mischief (Nap), 3.30 Pacific Ocean.

Catterick

12.50 Minster Glory, 1.20 Ball Games, 1.50 Benrajah, 2.20 Reno, 2.50 No Kidding, 3.20 Armaguedon.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Plumpton.

Updated: 12:10 Tuesday, December 02, 2003