RETRIEVE THE STICK, runner-up on her chasing debut at Ayr a fortnight ago, can go one better at Carlisle this afternoon.

Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson has his horses in good form and must have been delighted with this mare's five-lengths second to Jack Steel in Scotland, where she jumped well in the main and held a winning chance until being outpointed in the closing stages.

A dual-winner over hurdles, Retrieve The Stick looks the type to do at least as well – if not better – over fences. She is fancied to open her account over the major obstacles in the 188Bet.co.uk Handicap Chase over two and a half miles. Brian Hughes has the mount.

Jefferson and Hughes also have strong claims in the closing Grand Slam Of Darts At 188Bet National Hunt Flat Race with DANTE'S WAY.

Owned by jumps stalwart Trevor Hemmings, the six-year-old made a winning debut at Kelso in May when narrowly getting the better of Nuts Well after the pair had drawn well clear of the remainder of the field.

It is never easy to defy a penalty in a bumper but Jefferson achieved it with another Hemmings-owned horse in Cloudy Dream on this course last month. Dante's Way is selected to follow suit.

The 188Bete Novices' Chase has attracted a small, select field and although it will be fascinating to see Hughes team up with Seeyouatmidnight, a high-class hurdler who promises to climb high over fences, preference is for Paul Nicholls' Somerset raider SILSOL, the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies.

Silsol achieved a lofty rating of 158 over hurdles and was good enough to win last season's Welsh Champion Hurdle. It would be no surprise to see him develop into a high-class chaser at this trip of two-and-a-half miles and beyond.

Twiston-Davies and Nicholls can also capture the £20,000 Weatherbys Bank Graduation Chase with SALUBRIOUS, who was confined to only one outing last season.

He won by a neck from Drum Valley on his chasing debut at Fontwell last October and was not seen out again. That was unfortunate as it meant he forfeited the remainder of his novice season over fences without gaining any more experience.

There is, however, no doubting that Salubrious is a high-class horse, as he proved as a hurdler when placed in top company in races such as the Long Walk Hurdle Hurdle and the Relkeel Hurdle. He can make a winning comeback.

Also worth looking out for in Cumbria are the promising COURTLANDS PRINCE (1.15) and nap selection VIRNON (1.45), a bumper winner on this course last season and a horse likely to be seen to good effect now that his attentions are turned to hurdling.

At Kempton's Flat meeting, the £60,000 Betdaq – We're Serious About Sport Handicap over a mile offers REVISION the chance to follow up his recent course-and-distance success.

Also a track winner in September, when he likewise won at Goodwood, John Best's three-year-old has made significant strides since the summer. He has been raised 5lb for his latest win and may be up to scoring again as Kieran Fox continues his association with him.

William Haggas, on the mark with a single strike at Doncaster's final Flat turf meeting of the season on Saturday, can follow up with a Kempton double.

The Newmarket trainer, with more than 100 winners to his credit this season, can score with Karmadal and Afjaan.

KARMADAL lines up in the opening Learn English At isehove.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes. Beaten a length and a quarter by Dougan when an odds-on favourite over seven furlongs on this course 12 days ago, she is worth another chance stepping up to a mile for the first time.

Pat Cosgrave, rider of Karmadal, also teams up with AFJAAN, who made a belated but winning start to the season at Beverley at the beginning of last month.

The gelding, who has had only only two career outings, starts his handicap crusade off a mark of 79, which looks fair. Provided he handles this switch to a Polytrack surface, Afjaan looks sure to go well.

Also worth noting are KNIGHT OWL (3.35), who has been knocking on the door, and the promising WILD HACKED (4.10), who went into a few notebooks when a 40-1 runner-up on his debut at Doncaster last month.