NORTONTHORPELEGEND is worth a play on a challenging card at Sedgefield.

With quality rather thin on the ground at the County Durham circuit, stakes are probably best kept to an absolute minimum.

That said, Nortonthorpelegend's trainer Rebecca Menzies must be cautiously optimistic of a positive outcome in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old gelding is pretty unexposed within the chasing ranks, having won nicely over an inadequate trip at Carlisle in April.

His comeback run at Wetherby on November 12 was also pleasing, particularly in the manner in which he kept going towards the end of a three-mile handicap chase.

Nortonthorpelegend finished third, beaten 10 and a half lengths by West Of The Edge, but he jumped well for most of the race on what was his first outing for the capable Menzies.

Suitably encouraged by that run, the North Yorkshire handler has now made the sensible call to step him up to three and a quarter miles.

And though Nortonthorpelegend would probably not want a bucket-load more rain, this looks a good bit of planning in what is a bad race.

Royal Vacation has to be backed in the Injured Jockeys Fund Intermediate Handicap Chase at Lingfield.

The three-times hurdles winner looks yet another nice chasing recruit for Colin Tizzard (pictured), having twice finished runner-up in October.

He had a lot on his plate against the experienced As De Mee on his fencing bow at Fontwell, after which he was not given too hard a time once the useful Zeroeshadesofgrey cut loose at Wetherby.

This does not look quite as hot an encounter, so it would be a bit disappointing if the mud-loving Royal Vacation did not improve upon his rating of 129 throughout the winter.

High Command has to enter calculations for the Betway Handicap at Southwell.

Roger Varian's three-year-old is hardly an illuminating selection, but he does appear to have the edge over most of his rivals in this mile-and-a-half affair.

The gelded son of High Chaparral was dispiriting in three maidens earlier in the year, but served notice of his worth at Newcastle in October, when third in a decent all-weather handicap.

Next up was a visit to Southwell, where he got the job done in the style of an upwardly-mobile animal.

High Command never faltered in the hands of Jack Mitchell, who enjoyed one of those lovely armchair rides that this time yielded a two-and-a-half-length verdict.

Varian's representative has gone up 6lb for this assignment, but there are more races to be won with this progressive animal.

Whipphound might bring a wee bit to the table in division two of the Betway Sprint Handicap.

The Ruth Carr-trained eight-year-old is not getting any quicker, but it was nice to see him win so well at Catterick in October, when he overcame a spot of bother to pounce by a head in a five-furlong handicap.

Whipphound then tried his luck in a similar race at Newcastle, where he was never really a factor until late in the piece, when he flashed home to finish sixth.

That was an interesting effort as it perhaps demonstrated that the handicapper might still have given him a chance at the Nottinghamshire circuit.

Division one of the Betway Sprint Handicap can go to Pancake Day.

David Griffiths' four-year-old makes a quick turnaround following a solid, if unspectacular, effort at Lingfield.

But he is a different animal at Southwell, where he has won three times in the past, so hopes are high he can produce the goods.

SELECTIONS:

LINGFIELD: 1.00 Notre Ami, 1.30 Forecast, 2.05 Viking Mistress, 2.35 Billy No Name, 3.10 ROYAL VACATION (NAP), 3.45 Odello.

SEDGEFIELD: 12.10 Pamak D'Airy, 12.40 The Bay Oak, 1.10 Master Jake, 1.40 Discoverie, 2.15 Four Mile Beach, 2.45 Nortonthorpelegend, 3.20 Codeshare.

SOUTHWELL: 11.50 Pancake Day, 12.20 Whipphound, 12.50 High Command, 1.20 Dancin Alpha, 1.50 Cape Dignity, 2.25 Dal Riata, 2.55 Texas Katie, 3.30 Shah Of Armaan.

DOUBLE: Royal Vacation and Nortonthorpelegend.