IT will be worth travelling to Wetherby tomorrow just to see top Ryedale performer Barton in action.

The Tim Easterby-trained gelding makes his eagerly-awaited debut over fences in the Betfair.com Novices' Chase and will have the assistance of Tony Dobbin as he opens an exciting new chapter in his sparkling career.

A Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles during a novice campaign that saw him unbeaten in seven starts, Barton won the Grade One Martell Aintree Hurdle last season by a wide margin from Best Mate.

A horse with the size and scope to do equally well, if not even better, over fences, Barton has the potential to go to the top of the tree in his new sphere.

Tomorrow's all-important introduction could be the start of something big.

Easterby has other solid chances throughout the afternoon. The Great Habton handler saddles Lochbuy Junior in the Polycom Handicap Hurdle and this recent Market Rasen runner-up makes plenty of appeal as he reverts to the minimum trip. Significantly, Norman Williamson takes the mount.

Turgeonev, like Lochbuy Junior, joined Easterby earlier this year following the retirement of their former trainer, Middleham-based Micky Hammond.

Tuergeonev has yet to race for his new handler but Easterby has been impressed with the bold-running gelding at home and it would come as no surprise to see the six-year-old make a winning reappearance in the Wetherby Millennium Stand Handicap Chase.

In the Tetley's Bitter Novices' Chase, the booking to champion jockey Tony McCoy for Jonjo O'Neill's talented but lightly-raced gelding Mini Sensation looks a hint worth heeding.

The eight-year-old is a previous winner on this course over hurdles.

The principal Flat action takes place at Newmarket where the nap vote is awarded to Holy Island in the European Breeders' Fund Fillies' Handicap.

Luca Cumani's four-year-old caught the eye at York three weeks ago when staying on strongly to finish fourth in a similar contest to this after being given a lot of ground to make up from the home turn.

Holy Island has an extra two furlongs to travel tomorrow and the longer distance should suit her ideally. She promises to carry Jamie Spencer to victory.

Give Notice came close to providing this column with good reason for a sizeable celebration a fortnight ago when, after being napped to win the Cesarewitch Handicap, he finished third - beaten by little more than a length-and-a-half - at the juicy odds of 33-1.

Give Notice turns out again in the NGK Spark Plugs Stubbs Rated Handicap and, with Kevin Darley on board, can take the lion's share of the prize money.

Tomorrow's tips:

WETHERBY

1.10 - Lunar Maxwell

1.40 - Barton

2.10 - Lochbuy Junior

2.45 - Mini Sensation

3.20 - Turgeonev

3.55 - Petuntse

NEWMARKET

12.30 - Island Destiny

1.00 - High Pitched

1.30 - Ashdown Express

2.00 - Lagudin

2.30 - Scarlet Ribbons

3.05 - Holy Island (NAP)

3.40 - Give Notice

4.15 - Alfano

Updated: 12:21 Thursday, November 01, 2001