A sure sign that the jumping season is finally gathering pace comes tomorrow with a resumption of action at Wetherby, the home of National Hunt racing in Yorkshire and a course which will be host to numerous high-class horses in the months ahead.

It is only a little more than two weeks to the big two-day meeting at the 'A1' course, featuring the Charlie Hall Chase, and tomorrow's menu looks good for starters to that mouth-watering main course.

Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson, who has his team in cracking form, can land the Askham Richard Novices' Handicap Hurdle with The Merry Mason, the mount of Graham Lee.

The six-year-old prevailed on his reappearance at Market Rasen 10 days ago and, although he made hard work of winning that modest contest, his position at the line did, at least, confirm him to be moving in the right direction on only his fourth public appearance.

The Merry Mason is tough and willing, and he clearly stays well. Off a light weight in this event over an extended three miles, he promises to take plenty of beating and is awarded my Nap vote.

The £16,000 Bobby Renton Showcase Handicap Chase takes pride of place as the richest race on the programme and Infrasonique makes plenty of appeal.

Trained at Lambourn by Lavinia Taylor, this six-year-old proved solidly progressive last season and wound-up by winning a valuable handicap at Ayr in April.

His fitness on his first run of the campaign is not guaranteed, but the chances are that he will be fit enough to do himself justice. Andrew Thornton has the mount on this useful horse.

Latensaani should make a bold bid to extend his winning sequence to three in the Hallfield Novices' Hurdle. George Moore's four-year-old is proving to be pretty smart at the hurdling game and, although he faces his stiffest test to date here, Russ Garritty's mount is expected to produce a bold showing.

Direct Descendent, who made a winning debut over timber last month, bids to complete a double in the opening Goldsborough Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Trained by John Quinn, the three-year-old had two-and-a-half lengths to spare at Market Rasen last time. That experience will stand him in good stead here, with Tony Dobbin again taking the mount.

Rigadoon, the mount of Richard McGrath, is worth a second look in the Tetley's Bitter Novices' Handicap Chase. The six-year-old, a previous winner on this course, is trained by Mick Easterby, whose jumping string have been in great form in recent weeks.

In the Eurotel Handicap Hurdle, following a horse in form could pay dividends. Double Blade has won his last two races and looks on top of his game at present. Mary Reveley's gelding, a previous winner over this course and distance, has every chance of completing a hat-trick in this two-miler.

Wednesday's tips:

Wetherby

2.20 Direct Descendent, 2.55 Rigadoon, 3.30 Double Blade, 4.05 Infrasonique, 4.40 Latensaani, 5.15 The Merry Mason (Nap).

Bath

1.30 Ski Jump, 2.00 Dot Com Dot, 2.30 Change Partners, 3.05 Beverley Macca, 3.40 Nirvana, 4.15 Adrika, 4.50 Face The Limelight, 5.25 Broken Barricades.

Updated: 12:31 Tuesday, October 15, 2002