Ireland's Eye can smile at Sedgefield tomorrow.

The eight-year-old, trained near Wakefield by John Norton, goes for the Top Bombing Handicap Hurdle and is napped to come out on top in the hands of accomplished 3lb claimer Carl Rafter.

Ireland's Eye has had just three outings so far this season and looked to be coming to hand on the lastest of them at Wetherby three weeks ago.

Sent off at 20-1, he belied those odds by finishing a creditable fourth to Burundi. That form has since received a boost from the runner-up After Me Boys, who won at Newcastle on Saturday.

Although Ireland's Eye would prefer softer ground than he will encounter tomorrow, he should make a bold bid.

Sue Smith can do little wrong at present, and the Bingley trainer, who sent out two winners at Newcastle on Saturday, can add to her tally with Bushido in the Century FM Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old scored at Carlisle last time, beating Bodfari Rose by three-parts of a length. A follow-up is on the cards here with Dominic Elsworth again in the saddle.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison suffered a hearbreaker at Cheltenham last week when Latalomne fell at the second last fence in the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second successive year when at the head of affairs.

Ellison, hopefully, will enjoy better luck - though for much smaller rewards - here with Shalbeblue in the Carpetile.co.uk Novices' Chase.

A winner on this course over hurdles, Vinnie Keane's mount will not get many better opportunities to make his mark over fences.

Master Club Royal gets the vote in the carpets-online.co.uk Handicap Chase over a gruelling three miles and three furlongs.

This marathon trip will hold no fear for the eight-year-old, who was a course and distance winner earlier in the season.

At Exeter, Quabmatic should give Rodi Greene a good ride in the Come Racing 27th March Handicap Hurdle.

Greene was in the saddle when Kevin Bishop's charge got home by half-a-length at Taunton last time. He should go well again.

Also worth noting at the West Country venue are Orswell Crest (3-25) and Native Fling (3-55), the latter being a previous course winner.

Tuesday's tips:

SEDGEFIELD

2-30 Shalbeblue, 3-05 Copplestone, 3-35 Master Club Royal, 4-05 Ireland's Eye (NAP), 4-35 Son Of Anshan, 5-05 Bushido

EXETER

2-20 Mantilla, 2-55 Cinnamon Line, 3-25 Orswell Crest, 3-55 Native Fling, 4-25 Macgeorge, 4-55 Quabmatic

- Tomorrow's other race meeting is at Southwell

Updated: 11:52 Monday, March 17, 2003