Runner Bean can keep one step ahead of his rivals at Huntingdon tomorrow.

The Richard Lee-trained nine-year-old goes for the Flahive Brickwork Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase and is fancied to gain his third course success of the year.

Runner Bean, whose career has been largely spoiled by his tendency to break blood vessels, has seemingly been cured of that problem since joining Lee

Twice a course winner in the spring, the gelding ran as though in need of his comeback outing at Towcester last month, when he finished third, which was his first race since his summer break.

Sure to strip fitter tomorrow, Runner Bean can win in the capable hands of Alan O'Keefe.

Governor Daniel, another previous course winner, gets my vote in the New Veterinary Sampling Unit Complex Claiming Hurdle.

The evergreen 12-year-old has won his last two starts and this looks a great opportunity for him to complete a hat-trick. William Worthington, who knows him so well, again has the mount.

The £20,000 Tote Credit Club Showcase Handicap Hurdle takes pride of place on the Huntingdon card and Chem's Truce is napped to prevail.

Runner-up on his last two starts, Venetia Williams' gelding looked likely win when kicked clear two from home on his latest outing at Kelso, but he was worn down near the finish by Beat The Heat.

The very promising Sam Thomas takes the mount again tomorrow and, likely to delay his final effort a little longer, is expected to bring Chem's Truce home in front.

The Rebel Lady, successful on this course last month, can follow up in the Weatherbys Insurance Novices' Handicap Chase.

Henrietta Knight's six-year-old, a former point-to-pointer, scored by 18 lengths on her chasing debut and looks a mare with a bright future. She can win tomorrow over the same distance of three miles.

At Ludlow, Spring Dawn makes plenty of appeal in the Party Season Beginners' Chase.

The eight-year-old showed promise last season and looks a likely winner of this modest contest. He hails from the powerful Lambourn stable of Nicky Henderson, who has won two of the last three runnings of this two-miles event.

Tomorrow's tips:

Huntingdon

12.30 Governor Daniel, 1.00 Fragrant Rose, 1.30 Chem's Truce (Nap), 2.00 The Rebel Lady, 2.30 Our Prima Donna, 3.00 Runner Bean, 3.30 No More Money.

Ludlow

12.40 Leophin Dancer, 1.10 Lord Youky, 1.40 Ask Me What, 2.10 Dragon King, 2.40 Spring Dawn, 3.10 Petite Margot, 3.40 Queen Soraya.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Taunton.

Updated: 14:21 Wednesday, December 10, 2003