KING OF STRINGS, who caught the eye running well on his belated seasonal debut at Wetherby’s Christmas meeting, is fancied to fulfil that promise at Market Rasen this afternoon.

The gelding, trained at Sheriff Hutton by Mark Walford returns to the course where he gained a 66-1 win on his public debut in a bumper in February 2013 for the Leaping Deere Handicap Hurdle.

King Of Strings finished fourth to Special Wells at Wetherby on his first outing since finishing third at Market Rasen last April.

The benefit of that race should stand him in excellent stead this time and with Dougie Costello again in the saddle, the North Yorkshire six-year-old is selected to open his winning account over hurdles.

Chicoria is fancied to come out on top in the Deere Run Handicap Hurdle.

An Aintree winner in November, Henry Daly’s charge failed by only half-a-length to follow up at Ludlow, where his jumping let him down on occasions.

Provided he can be a little more fluent over his hurdles this time, Chicoria can make the most of a useful weight and is awarded the nap vote.

Tony McCoy is the star attraction at the Lincolnshire course and the legendary jockey can reward his fans with a double.

In the opening John Deere Novices’ Hurdle, McCoy rides Novirak, who made a promising start to his hurdling career at Doncaster when finishing third to the useful Glingerburn, a winner again since on the same course.

A 90-rated handicapper on the Flat, Novirak, trained by James Fanshawe, is selected to show his rivals a clean pair of heels.

McCoy has also been booked by North Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank to ride Big Water in the ‘Nothing Runs Like A Deere’ Handicap Chase.

Twice a winner this winter at Carlisle, Big Water has no easy task under top weight, but he is tough and consistent and he boasts a more solid-looking profile than his rivals.

Steel Summit (3.50), three times a winner since Boxing Day, has a whopping 14lb penalty to carry in the closing race but Shane Quinlan reduces his weight by 8lb and the in-form gelding can score again for trainer David Dennis.

At Wincanton’s valuable meeting, Trickaway makes plenty of appeal as he bids for a hat-trick of wins for trainer Philip Hobbs in the Higos Insurance Services Platinum Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old has won at Wincanton and Exeter on his last two starts, looking a progressive horse on both occasions. He has been raised a further 5lb by the handicapper, but that may not be much of a cross to bear for a horse who has run in only four steeplechases and who remains open to further improvement.

The £20,000 Higos Insurance Services Somerset National may prove a good opportunity for the Tom George-trained Big Society.

The nine-year-old was a beaten favourite on his latest start at Exeter, but he ran a solid race that day on his first outing since the spring. He should strip fitter this afternoon and is fancied to recover losses from last time.

Chris Gordon is enjoying an excellent season and the trainer can add to his tally with Sea Wall in the Livingstones Insurance Services Yeovil Handicap Hurdle.

The mount of Tom Cannon, Gordon’s stable jockey, Sea Wall was a four-length winner on his latest start at Lingfield. A 6lb rise does not look prohibitive.

Also worth noting are David Pipe’s Great Choice (1.30), who ran well at Cheltenham on his comeback outing in November, and Gunna Be A Devil (3.40), who should have likewise benefited from his return to action at Chepstow eight weeks ago.

Market Rasen today: 1.10 Novirak, 1.45 King Of Strings, 2.15 Chicoria (NAP), 2.50 Big Water, 3.20 Ultimatum Du Roy, 3.50 Steel Summit.

Wincanton today: 1.30 Great Choice, 2.05 Tricka - way, 2.35 Big Society, 3.10 Sea Wall, 3.40 Gunna Be A Devil, 4.10 Vivant Poeme.

Today’s other meetings: Ludlow and Wolverhampton.