Forever Eyesofblue, an easy winner over hurdles at Sedgefield last week, can turn his attentions to fences with similar success at Hexham tomorrow.

Andrew Parker's strapping gelding won by five lengths from Star Time on his latest start, proving himself to be in really good form.

Parker outlined his plans to send Forever Eyesofblue chasing after that race, saying that the seven-year-old had schooled well over the major obstacles at home.

Forever Eyesofblue is well suited to soft ground, which he will get again tomorrow. Paul Robson has the mount on my Nap selection in the Sharp Minds Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

Blairgowrie has strong claims in the Sharp Minds Betfair Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles.

A horse from the powerful County Durham stable of Howard Johnson, Blairgowrie showed ability on his only start last season, in a 'bumper' race at Carlisle, where he was a clear second to the highly-regarded Villon.

The five-year-old looks the type to make an impression over hurdles and he will receive every assistance from Graham Lee.

Keith Reveley, who has made an encouraging start to his training career since taking over the reins of the family's Saltburn yard from his mother Mary in August, could score with Time Marches On in the Sharp Minds Handicap Hurdle.

Jim Crowley's mount should be all the better for his recent third-placed effort to Alam at Carlisle, where he stayed on from an unpromising position after jumping carelessly. That outing should have sharpened-up his hurdling.

At Fontwell, Timmy Murphy can win the betfair.com Handicap Chase aboard Monte Cristo.

Lavinia Taylor's gelding confirmed his well-being at Stratford last month when winning nicely on his first outing since the spring. It would be unwise to underestimate his chances of following-up tomorrow.

Flinders will not be short of supporters in the Sharp Minds Handicap Chase.

Not only is Charlie Mann's charge a previous winner over this course and distance, but he was also an easy scorer at Hereford last time, coming home nine lengths clear of Correct And Right after making all the running.

Jockey Jim Culloty will miss star chaser Best Mate's first race of the National Hunt season after breaking his thumb in a fall at Exeter.

Culloty, who has ridden Best Mate in his hat-trick of triumphs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is expected to be out of action until just before Christmas.

Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight, is entered for the William Hill Chase at Exeter on November 19.

Friday's tips:

Hexham

12.50 Forever Eyesofblue (Nap), 1.20 Thyne Man, 1.50 Blairgowrie, 2.20 Tsunami, 2.50 Amadeus, 3.20 Time Marches On, 3.50 La Perrotine.

Fontwell

1.40 Gallery God, 2.10 Romany Dream, 2.40 Great Ovation, 3.10 Monte Cristo, 3.40 Flinders, 4.10 Young Dancer.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Wolverhampton and Yarmouth.

Updated: 12:29 Thursday, November 04, 2004