Double Blade, a recruit to Noel Wilson's North Yorkshire yard, can prove too sharp for his rivals at Wetherby tomorrow.

The eight-year-old, winner of his last two starts, goes for a hat-trick in the Rocom 3Com Handicap Hurdle and, with promising claimer James Davies reducing his weight by 5lb, is napped to oblige again.

Wilson acquired Double Blade after he had won a claiming hurdle by five lengths for long-time trainer Mary Reveley at Sedgefield at the end of September.

He has since placed the gelding to win a similar contest at Plumpton by seven lengths, with Davies in the saddle.

Double Blade, a horse with a lot of ability, is quite a quirky character, but the change of stables may well have revitalized him, as it often does to horses who have been in the same yard for a length of time.

Tomorrow's test is a much stiffer task, but Double Blade goes well on fast ground and is a horse in form. I think he can score again and prove that the 7,000 guineas spent on buying him was something of a bargain.

Andrew Tinkler was seen to good effect at Sedgefield yesterday when winning on Milkom Elegance for Kevin Ryan, and the Malton-born rider can again figure on the scoresheet aboard Phar From Frosty in the Sandbeck Motors Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Charles Egerton's gelding goes to Wetherby on the back of a win at Market Rasen, where he lowered the colours of the hot favourite, The Sister. I fancy that he will defy top weight.

Mick Easterby sent out Moonlit Harbour to score at Sedgefield yesterday and the Sheriff Hutton trainer can follow-up with Minster Glory in the bet365 White Rose Handicap Chase.

A winner last time out, and also previously successful over this course and distance, the 12-year-old remains a competitive performer, despite being in the twilight of his career.

Prolific winner You're Special (1.35) and the promising Ryders Storm (3.20) are also worth noting on the first of Wetherby's two-day meeting, which will be highlighted by Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase.

Trainer Chris Wall and jockey Ricky Mullen could well enjoy a memorable afternoon tomorrow at Newmarket.

The duo will be strongly represented by Counsel's Opinion in the featured James Seymour Stakes. Winner of his last two outings, the six-year-old has every chance of completing a hat-trick.

Shamara gives the Wall-Mullen partnership another fighting chance in the TNT Fillies' Rated Handicap.

A winner at Goodwood two outings ago, Shamara has since shaped well to finish third at Haydock, staying on strongly after being unpromisingly placed early in the home straight.

Tomorrow's step up to a mile and a half should suit this progressive three-year-old.

Irish trainer Mouse Morris, who saddled Boss Doyle to win the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby in 2000 and 2001, plans to run Rostropovich in the £30,000 race there on Saturday.

The six-year-old grey gelding was in fine form at the end of last season, running well at Cheltenham and Aintree before defeating Deano's Beeno at Sandown in April.

Friday's tips:

Wetherby

1.00 Phar From Frosty, 1.35 You're Special, 2.10 Double Blade (Nap), 2.45 Minster Glory, 3.20 Ryders Storm, 3.55 Rapt.

Newmarket

12.50 Fun To Ride, 1.20 Russian Ruby, 1.55 Shamara, 2.30 Counsel's Opinion, 3.05 Aversham, 3.40 Tom Paddington, 4.15 Artistry.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Brighton

Updated: 12:11 Thursday, October 30, 2003