NORTON trainer Brian Ellison aims to start 2016 on a winning note at Catterick tomorrow with a horse he believes could climb high up the steeplechasing ladder.

Definitly Red, a Grade 2-winning hurdler at Haydock last season, makes his debut over fences and had only three rivals in the Dine & View At Catterick Races Novices' Chase where he is ridden by Danny Cook.

Ellison has always viewed the Phil Martin-owned gelding, a point-to-point winner early in his carer before developing into a 140-rated hurdler, as a potential chaser. This looks a perfect opportunity for him to begin his new discipline in style.

A creditable runner-up in the hotly-contested and valuable Fixed-Brush Hurdle at Haydock last month, Defintly Red has done plenty of schooling over fences in the meantime.

If all goes to plan, Ellison could be looking at sizeable targets at Cheltenham, Aintree and Ayr come the spring with Definitly Red.

First, he needs to pass this initial test to put himself on course. All eyes will be on the seven-year-old over this extended three miles.

Mick Easterby is fancied to figure among the winners with Rear Admiral in the Watch On 3 Devices racinguk.com/anywhere Handicap Chase.

Jake Greenall's mount came good at Musselburgh last time out and, off a 6lb higher mark, ought to be competitive again.

Rose Dobbin has good prospects of saddling a double on the Catterick card.

Jonniesofa will be tough to beat in the Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing Novices' Hurdle, despite having the burden of 12st on his back.

The six-year-old has made useful strides this season, winning at Kelso and Newcastle and, in between, finishing a good second in a hot race at Gosforth Park on Fighting Fifth Hurdle day.

Craig Nichol, who knows him well, again has the mount on Jonniesofa, whose class is expected to shine through.

Dobbin can also lift the Racing Again 14th January Handicap Hurdle with Marrakech Trader, who shaped well, despite being a beaten favourite, on his seasonal debut at Kelso.

Kim Bailey's Nam Hai (12.30), who made a promising start to his hurdling career at Southwell a month ago, and Triumvirate (1.05), who looks a handy mark for his handicap debut for in-form trainer Venetia Williams, are also worth noting.

Cheltenham's traditional New Year's Day fixture is highlighted by the £60,000 BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 test, which provides Village Vic with an opportunity to extend his unbeaten sequence this season.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding, who kicked-off his campaign with a Wetherby victory in the Bobby Renton Chase in October, followed-up at Musselburgh before completing a hat-trick on this course last month when clinching the valuable Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.

He adopted front-running tactics that day and a similar ploy could make him hard to beat this afternoon off an 8lb higher mark.

Nicky Henderson is strongly represented in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle with Whisper, Bobs Worth and Top Notch all in the line-up, which also includes Cole Harden, winner of last season's World Hurdle on this course.

Marginal preference is for Top Notch, who has run two cracking races behind Irving at Haydock and Identity Thief in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth. This step up to two and a half miles could bring out further improvement in him.

Three Muskateers is the apple of trainer Dan Skelton's eye and this fast-improving gelding, who opened his winning account at Wetherby last season, has leading claims in the £32,000 BetBright#realfansonly Novices' Chase, which carried Grade 2 status.

Three Muskateers won at a similar level at Newbury last time when beating Activial by almost five lengths. He looks sure to make a bold bid.

Skelton can also click with the useful Captain Chaos (12-10), the nap selection, in the opening hurdle, while Beg To Differ (12-45) looks to be coming to hand for Jonjo O'Neill and can notch his first win over fences when stepping-up to three-and-a-quarter miles.

Selections
Catterick
12.30 Nam Hai 1.05 Triumvirate 1.40 Definitly Red 2.15 Jonniesofa 2.50 Rear Admiral 3.25 Marrakech Trader .

Cheltenham 12.10 Captain Chaos (NAP) 12.45 Beg To Differ 1.20 Three Muskateers 1.55 Village Vic 2.30 According To Trev 3.05 Top Notch 3.40 La Coeur Net.