Inch Perfect, a winner on the Flat this winter, and placed over hurdles, tackles a new discipline at Catterick tomorrow.

The Richard Fahey-trained gelding goes over fences for the first time in public in the Howden Joinery Maiden Chase over two miles.

The eight-year-old has not proved as good over hurdles as he is on the level, but there is every chance that the bigger obstacles will bring out the best of his jumping ability.

Padge Whelan, Fahey's stable jockey, has the task of guiding him round, and will no doubt be hoping that this chasing recruit's jumping is.. inch perfect.

King-For-Life will not be short of supporters in the Glasgow Standard National Hunt Flat Race.

Trained not far from the track by Alan Swinbank, who sent out a good winner in Far Pavillions at Haydock last Saturday, King-For-Life runs here in preference to stablemate Dark Character, a good second at Ayr ten days ago.

In the Birmingham Handicap Hurdle, the lightly-weighted Only Words should go well for Butterwick trainer Alan Lockwood.

The six-year-old has been running respectably this winter and was a decent second to Stormy Beech at Sedgefield three weeks ago. In a trappy race, Only Words is awarded a sporting Nap vote.

Middlethorpe, a Wetherby winner last week, has every chance of defying a penalty in the Weatherbys Travel Novices' Hurdle.

Gino Carenza again has the mount on the Mick Easterby-trained gelding, who is nothing if not a consistent performer.

At Bangor, Darina's Boy has good prospects of landing the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

Lawrence Wells' gelding has been in the money in all his three races this season and went down by only a length to Lets Go Dutch at Exeter last time out. This could prove a good opportunity for him to register his second success of the campaign under Paul Flynn.

Martin Pipe, who is preparing a bumper team for next week's Cheltenham Festival, can take Bangor's opening honours with Penny Pictures.

Although the four-year-old was a beaten favourite on his debut over hurdles, he was a pretty decent horse on the Flat last season. He deserves another chance in the Croxton Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

Wednesday's tips:

CATTERICK

2.00 Shaffishayes, 2.30 Supreme Breeze, 3.00 Middlethorpe, 3.30 Inch Perfect, 4.00 Only Words (Nap), 4.30 Golden Chimes, 5.00 King-For-Life.

BANGOR

2.10 Penny Pictures, 2.40 Fiori, 3.10 Clingstone, 3.40 Mighty Kilcash, 4.10 Darina's Boy, 4.45 Jasmin Guichois, 5.15 Go Nomadic.

- Tomorrow's other meeting is at Lingfield.

Updated: 12:16 Tuesday, March 04, 2003