NORTH YORKSHIRE trainer Malcolm Jefferson, who is priming his powerful team for the weeks and months ahead, can complete a double in the first two races at Hexham this afternoon.

CLOUDY DREAM, an impressive bumper winner at Carlisle three weeks ago, is first into battle in the Thank You LWC 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle, while RYEDALE RACER makes his seasonal reappearance half-an-hour later in the Rowlands 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. Brian Hughes, among the winners at Musselburgh yesterday aboard nap selection Innocent Touch, is set to partner both Jefferson runners.

Cloudy Dream won a bumper on this course last season and fulfilled that promise when defying a penalty at Carlisle on his latest start. He is now set to switch to hurdles and this well-regarded five-year-old, owned by Trevor Hemmings, is napped to continue his winning vein.

Ryedale Racer has had both his races to date on this course. Runner-up on his debut here in April, he followed up with a seven-lengths success the following month. He looks to have the right credentials to make a good fist of hurdling and is selected to make a winning comeback.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY is hard to oppose in the Hexham Autumn Handicap Hurdle.

Phil Kirby's gelding has won both his races this season, most recently at Wetherby last week when he scored without being asked a serious question in the conditional jockeys' handicap.

Bruce Almighty is set to go up by a whopping 15lb from tomorrow, but he is able to run off his old mark here and without a penalty. He will surely start at short odds to complete a hat-trick. After that life is likely to get a big tougher for him.

GUNNER LINDLEY is entitled to go well in the Tyneside Samaritans 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle.

The eight-year-old, trained by Stuart Coltherd, has finished runner-up in both his starts this season at Sedgefield and was beaten less than a length on his latest start. He is overdue a winning turn.

At Musselburgh Richard Johnson makes a rare appearance as he continues his relentless quest to clinch his first championship.

Johnson has opened up a wide margin at the top of the table and is unlikely to return home from this meeting empty-handed.

He is fancied to bag a double for his Minehead boss Philip Hobbs on BRISE VENDEENNE and VILLAGE VIC.

The latter, who contests the £18,000 Racing Uk Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Chase, will surely be hard to beat after his recent neck success in the Bobby Renton Chase at Wetherby. Raised 4lb for that success, he promises to be competitive once again.

Brise Vendeenne runs in the SiMBA Charity Filles' & Mares Maiden Hurdle which looks a good opportunity for her to open her winning account.

SIR CHAULEVIN may prove the answer to the opening Border Safeguard Juvenile Hurdle.

Although this is his jumping debut, Jim Goldie's charge won on the Flat at Ayr in September and looks to have the size and scope to add to his tally over hurdles.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison looks to have found a suitable opportunity for SAND BLAST to make it third time lucky in the Download Your Racing UK App Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Will Kennedy's mount finished runner-up in both his races last season. He looks to have bright prospects of going one better before his attentions are switched to hurdling.

Today's tips

Hexham

1.20 Cloudy Dream (NAP)

1.50 Ryedale Racer

2.20 Solway Legend

2.50 Dundee Blue

3.20 Gunner Lindley

3.50 Bruce Almighty

Musselburgh

1.00 Sir Chaulevin

1.30 Brise Vendeenne

2.00 Western Way

2.30 The Backup Plan

3.00 Aristo Du Plessis

3.30 Village Vic

4.00 Sand Blast