As the star-studded Cheltenham Festival drew to a glorious close this afternoon, it's back to basics tomorrow with two run-of-the-mill jump meetings, plus an all-weather Flat fixture to keep punters happy.

Broke Road looks a popular choice at Fakenham, where he bids to increase his commendable record on the course by winning the Tote Jackpot Handicap Hurdle.

Val Ward's gelding won at Fakenham last month, by ten lengths in a race he had also won last season. As he has previously scored at Catterick, he is tomorrow bidding for a hat-trick of wins.

Broke Road promises to take plenty of beating tomorrow under JP McNamara.

Little Brown Bear makes appeal in the Prince of Wales Stand Novices' Chase.

Richard Ford, trainer of Little Brown Bear, has his horses in excellent form and this eight-year-old, progressing with every race, is fancied to register his second success of the campaign.

In the Fakenham Conditional Jockeys' Maiden Hurdle, Proud Western, trained by Brian Ellison, has shown enough ability on the Flat to suggest a bold bid.

At Chepstow, Asparagus makes plenty of appeal in the Tale of Two Cities Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old went down by only two lengths to Auburn Spirit at Hereford last time and is napped to go one better under Jim Culloty.

Trainer Philip Hobbs, who gained the biggest success of career when Flagship Uberalles won yesterday's Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, can carry on his good work tomorrow at Chepstow.

Hobbs saddles Saxon Duke in the Pickwick Bookermakers' Handicap Chase and this long-distance specialist should prove hard to beart.

Hobbs can complete a double with Jaguar in the Severn Handicap Hurdle. The nine-year-old is returning to action after a long absence, but has talent and, if anything like fit, he makes plenty of appeal.

Tomorrow's tips:

Fakenham

2.20 Little Brown Bear, 2.55 Willow Run, 3.30 Mr Bossman, 4.05 Broke Road, 4.40 Red Hot Indian, 5.15 Proud Western.

Chepstow

2.00 Rock'n Cold, 2.30 Devon View, 3.10 Free, 3.45 Saxon Duke, 4.20 Jaguar, 4.55 Asparagus (Nap), 5.30 Mounsey Castle.

Updated: 14:07 Thursday, March 14, 2002