HI GEORGE, whose one and only outing over fences saw him gain a notable success at Catterick last season, makes his eagerly awaited reappearance at Sedgefield today.

Trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson, the gelding gained a narrow success at Catterick over Holywell, who went on to become one of the best novice chasers of the season and is now among the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

While beating Holywell, who took a while to get the hang of jumping fences, may well have flattered Hi George, there is no doubt that he's an exciting horse.

He should be a tough but to crack in the featured Hellens Group Handicap Chase. Brian Hughes has the mount.

Distime, trained by John Quinn - Jefferson's neighbour - should be hard to beat in the Nortonthorpe Industrial Estate Huddersfield Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Restricted to only two outings last season, the eight-year-old returned from a lengthy absence to finish second at Aintree a couple of weeks ago to Baileys Concerto, who has been in unstoppable form lately and who has won again since at Musselburgh.

Distime should have benefited from his comeback outing and is napped to go one better this afternoon, despite having top weight to carry.

The opening Newcastle Flooring Novices' Hurdle is the target of Irish raider Balbriggan.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, whose horses are always to be feared in Britain, Balbriggan successfully mixes chasing and hurdling. The seven-year-old is already twice a winner this season. He can make it three.

Recent winners Accordingtoscript (2.50) and Agent Fedora (3.50) are also worth considering.

At Huntingdon, all eyes will be on El Namoose in the Omni Security Mobile Patrol Services Novices' Hurdle.

John Ferguson's gelding has looked impressive in winning two bumpers and looks a bright prospect as he prepares to make his hurdling bow under Barry Geraghty.

Geraghty, whose first-ever visit to Carlisle yesterday proved a successful one, with two winners from his three rides in Cumbria, has good prospects of a treble at Huntingdon.

Geraghty teams-up with Volnay de Thaix in the Omni Security Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle and Nicky Henderson's charge is the class horse in the race.

He was a triple winner last season and was second in Grade 2 company. He has to concede weight all round here, but is fancied to make a bold bid.

My Wigwam Or Yours can also oblige for Geraghty and Henderson in the Tom Jones Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase. A promising runner-up at Kempton three weeks ago, the five-year-old now makes his chasing debut and can defy top weight.

Also worth noting are Tothemoonandback (1.10), a recent winner at Plumpton and Our Phylli Vera (3.10), who enjoyed a profitable campaign last season and who looks poised to carry on the good work in the months ahead.

Selections

Sedgefield today
12.50 Balbriggan, 1.20 Spiculas, 1.50 Distime (NAP), 2.20 Hi George, 2.50 Accordingtoscript, 3.20 Milan Royale, 3.50 Agent Fedora.

Huntingdon today
12.40 Jac The Legend, 1.10 Tothemoonandback, 1.40 El Namoose, 2.10 Volnay de Thaix, 2.40 My Wigwam Or Yours, 3.10 Our Phylli Vera, 3.40 Avenue Of Honour.

Today’s other meetings: Lingfield.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Ayr, Bangor, Exeter and Kempton.