NORTON trainer Brian Ellison can continue his excellent run of form at Market Rasen this afternoon.

A double at Bangor last week and another success at Leicester on Monday, Ellison added to his growing tally with Moyode Wood at Hexham yesterday.

Today, Gone Forever bids to add his name to the Spring Cottage scoresheet in the PHS Besafe Specialist Protective Workwear Solutions Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old showed a useful level of ability in his four bumper outings last season, winning at Catterick in January and twice finishing second at Towcester and on this course. He has a solid profile for an up-and-coming hurdler and is fancied to take all the beating for his in-form trainer.

Sue Smith has good prospects of winning the PHS Novices' Handicap Chase with Straidnahanna, the mount of Gavin Sheehan.

The Bingley gelding has finished runner-up in both his chasing starts this season at Kelso and, most recently at Carlisle, where he chased home Big Water. It is only a matter of time since the promising Straidhanna opens his winning account and this looks a useful opportunity.

Anyone who saw The Society Man run at the latest meeting on this course will surely be of the opinion that he was a most unlucky loser. Approaching the final fence with the race seemingly at his mercy, Michael Chapman's charge made a careless error and sent his rider Joe Cornwall over his head.

Cornwall will be hoping for a clear round in the Carole's 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase, which offers The Society Man the chance of quick compensation.

In the PHS Besafe National Hunt Flat Race, After Tonight deserves a second chance. Trained at Nawton, near Helmsley, by David O'Meara, the four-year-old was sent off favourite on his debut at Sedgefield three weeks ago but faded out of contention in the closing stages and finished a well-beaten fourth.

It would be hasty to judge him too sharply on that sole effort and, given that he was favourite last time, he surely must have been showing some ability beforehand. Dismissing him lightly could prove costly.

In the Connolly's Red Mills Handicap Hurdle, Definitely Better will be popular with punters.

The Tom George-trained six-year-old has won his last two races at Exeter and Sedgefield in the style of a horse improving fast. He is selected to defy a 7lb penalty here in the hands of Paddy Brennan.

George and Brennan can also lift the Block Free Services Handicap Chase with Veyranno, who finished third at Ffos Las on his fencing bow last month. He will not get many better opportunities than this to win a race.

In the featured £25,000 PHS Besafe Handicap Hurdle, Henryville makes plenty of appeal after winning of his last four races and a good second at Cheltenham on his latest start.

Harry Fry, trainer of Henryville, saddles Voix d'Eau at Wincanton in the Bathwick Tyres Dorchester Handicap Hurdle. This smart French recruit is not to be underestimated.

The Bathwick Tyres Yeovil Handicap Chase could well fall to nap selection Quite By Chance on his second outing over fences.

The five-year-old suggested he had a future at this game when finishing fourth at Stratford on his chasing debut last month. He is trained by Colin Tizzard, whose stable star Cue Card will be in action at Haydock on Saturday in the showpiece Betfair Chase, which he won last year. The bookies have installed him the ante-post favourite to gain a repeat victory over Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti, who chased him home in this Grade 1 race 12 months ago.


Selections

Market Rasen today
12.30 Gone Forever, 1.00 Straidnahanna, 1.30 The Society Man, 2.05 Henryville, 2.40 Definitely Better, 3.10 Veyranno, 3.40 After Tonight.

Wincanton today
12.50 Aristocracy, 1.20 Quite By Chance (NAP), 1.50 It's A Close Call, 2.25 Voix d'Eau, 3.00 Pressies Girl, 3.30 Trickaway, 4.00 Band Of Thunder.

Today's other meetings
Chepstow and Kempton.

Tomorrow's meetings
Ascot, Ffos Las, Haydock and Wolverhampton.