Bill Haigh, who spent some 30 years as a trainer, has come out of retirement after a two years' absence and looks set to celebrate in style at Sedgefield tomorrow.

Haigh, formerly based in Norton, has moved to a yard near Richmond and tomorrow he saddles Sillars Stalker in the featured McEwan's Durham National Handicap Chase.

The 11-year-old scored on this course on Boxing Day and has enjoyed a good season.

On his latest start, at Doncaster at the end of January, Sillards Stalker finished sixth to Brother of Iris and may well have found the ground too fast that day.

Conditions will certainly be testing tomorrow and Sillars Stalker is fancied to come out on top in this gruelling three and a half miles marathon - and give Haigh a day to remember.

The Robin And John Simpson Memorial Handicap Chase offers Another Red the chance to get back into the winning groove.

The 11-year-old has not won a race for some time but he gave notice that his turn was not far away when finishing a close second to the in-form Balleswhidden on this course three weeks ago.

Tomorrow, over an extra five furlongs, Another Red should be in his element and he is strongly fancied to go one better.

Although it is almost three months since Cypress Avenue last ran, Val Ward's gelding should not be overlooked in the Equinage Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old will be in his element over this three miles and three-and-a-half furlongs journey and, previously successful on this course, is not without a chance. Robert Thornton has the mount.

Grantham-based Ward and jockey Thornton can also take the Alphameric Novices' Hurdle with Saxon Victory.

The four-year-old has accumulated a frustrating sequence of seconds this season, most recently when chasing home Caldamus over this course and distance three weeks ago.

Saxon Victory is certainly overdue a victory and deserves one more chance to oblige here.

The Frank Scotto Memorial Novices' Chase looks at the mercy of Barnburgh Boy, the mount of Lorcan Wyer.

Winner of three of his last four starts, Tim Easterby's smart young fencer can be excused his latest Newcastle defeat, which was inflicted by the high-class Aghawadda Gold, unbeaten in three starts and one of the leading fancies for next week's Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

At Exeter, the in-form Lizzys First can complete a hat-trick in the Tote Handicap Hurdle, while Selatan can lift the featured £10,000 Tote Haldon National Handicap Chase.

The mount of Graham Bradley, Selatan returned to winning form at Fontwell last time and, still on a handy mark, is napped to double his tally tomorrow.

Floods hold up Route work

The prospects of Direct Route running in next week's Queen Mother Champion Chase looked increasingly slim today as bad weather continued to hold up the horse's preparation.

The one-time big race favourite has faced a race against time for Cheltenham since he burst a blood vessel when well beaten behind Teeton Mill at Ascot last month.

Trainer Howard Johnson said a final decision will be made at the end of this week.

"It's flooded here and he hasn't been out of his box. I haven't a clue what to do with him," said Johnson.

He is also concerned about unsuitably soft going at Cheltenham for Direct Route, who may instead be aimed at the Aintree and Punchestown spring festivals, at both of which he won last year.

Lord Gyllene is in a race against time to be fit for the Martell Grand National.

The Aintree winner is not recovering as quickly as hoped from a pulled muscle which has forced him to miss next week's Cheltenham Festival.

But trainer Steve Brookshaw is still hoping to return to Aintree with the 11-year-old, who has been unplaced in two outings this term having missed the whole of last season.

"Lord Gyllene is still very sore and he is not coming along as well as we would like," said Brookshaw.

Prize bid to land Festival Bumper

The last entries for next week's Cheltenham Festival were announced today at the deadline for four races.

Willie Mullins, who has won the last three runnings of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, will be represented by Alexander Prize.

The six-year-old, winner of his only start to date at Navan, is likely to start favourite but is set to face stiff competition with nine other unbeaten horses among the 52 entries, notably from Martin Pipe's Irish import Golden Alpha.

The highly-regarded unbeaten point-to-pointer Castle Mane, from the stable of Teeton Mill's former trainer Caroline Bailey, is likely to face stiff competition in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.

Varykinov, owned, trained and ridden by Mark Rimell, the 14-year-old Mr Boston and Carvill's Hill's half-brother Archer are among the best of the home team, while the Irish party could include 1996 winner Elegant Lord.

Martin Pipe is represented as an owner by winning point-to-pointer Shafi, trained by his son David. Pipe trained Cyfor Malta to win last year's Cathcart Challenge Cup.

Tomorrow's tips

SEDGEFIELD

2.00...........................Court Joker

2.30.....................Cypress Avenue

3.00......................Barnburgh Boy

3.30.......................Sillars Stalker

4.00..........................Another Red

4.30.....................Steelers Dream

5.00.......................Saxon Victory

EXETER

2.20............................True Vision

2.50..........................Wise Gunner

3.20........................Selatan (Nap)

3.50............................Storm Dust

4.20............Lady Of Gortmerron

4.50............................Lizzys First

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.