Catterick offers the best chance of any racing on turf tomorrow, and Howard Johnson will be among those trainers with their fingers crossed that the meeting goes ahead.

A 7.30am inspection of the course is planned tomorrow morning and a slight rise in the temperature overnight is needed to rid the track of frost.

Catterick racecourse spokesman John Gundill said that the course is not bone hard and has just a crost of frost.

Johnson saddles Shagreen in the Leeming Handicap Chase, and the eight-year-old is fancied to notch his first win of the campaign.

From a stable, which has been slow to hit form this season but which is showing signs of bouncing back, Shagreen gave notice on this course ten days ago that his turn was near.

The County Durham gelding was beaten only a length by River Don, the pair finishing well clear of the rest of the field. Over the same distance tomorrow, Shagreen has every chance of winning.

Barnsley trainer John Norton, who stands down in favour of his assistant and son John Richard on February 1, can sign-off with a winner in Squandamania in the stanleybet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

Niall Hannity's mount scored by 11 lengths at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and, despite rising in the ratings as a result, has strong claims on achieving back-to-back successes tomorrow.

What A Wonder may not be among the most talented horses in Ferdy Murphy's Middleham yard, but the six-year-old gelding should find opportunity knocking in the Swale Novices' Hurdle.

Runner-up in all three of his races this season, What A Wonder failed by just a head to get the better of the odds-on Bassey at Fakenham last month.

With Adrian Maguire again in the saddle, What A Wonder, a proven stayer, is napped to come out on top over this extended three miles.

The Major looks set to rule the roost in the Bedale Novices' Chase.

Trained by the in-form Mary Reveley, the this New Zealand import failed by just a head to catch Killerine, the 7-4 favourite, over this course and distance 10 days ago.

The verdict is expected to fall his way tomorrow with Alan Dempsey again in the saddle.

On the Flat at Lingfield's all-weather meeting, Prince Nico will be hard to beat in the Cruasder Handicap.

Winner of his last three starts, Rae Guest's progressive sprinter has been allotted the welter burden of 10st 8llb here, but the Newmarket trainer has snapped-up the services of rising apprentice star Graham Gibbons, and his 7lb allowance will prove invaluable.

Daunted can continue trainer Gary Moore's good run on the sand by lifting the Trackside Club Claiming Stakes, while Tightrope deserves attention in the Silks Suite Handicap.

Jamie Osborne's recent course-and-distance winner is fancied to oblige again in the hands of Michael Fenton.

Tomorrow's tips:

CATTERICK

12.50 - What A Wonder (Nap)

1.25 - Mountain Dream

1.55 - Squandamania

2.25 - Lurpak Legend

2.55 - Shagreen

3.25 - The Major

3.55 - Penguin Bay

LINGFIELD

1.20 - Prince Nico

1.50 - Daunted

2.20 - Tightrope

2.50 - Zoe's Gold

3.20 - Blakeset

3.50 - Bee Gee

Updated: 12:33 Friday, January 19, 2001