While Warwick's meeting tomorrow has been called off and Fontwell is considered unraceable, hopes are high that Catterick and Cheltenham can go ahead as planned.
Bingley trainer Sue Smith, who had two winners at Haydock on Saturday, has good prospects at Catterick with Diceman in the 'Come Racing Again Tomorrow' Beginners' Chase over two miles.
The mount of Dominic Elsworth, the seven-year-old gained a 25-1 success at Doncaster earlier this month, beating the favourite Il Cavaliere (a winner since) by one and a half lengths in a novices' hurdle.
Diceman looks the sort to do even better over fences and is fancied to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles tomorrow.
Maraud can give trainer Mike Sowersby something to celebrate by landing the Barton Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles.
The eight-year-old has been running well, scoring a course-and-distance success two outings ago. With the experienced Paddy Aspell in the saddle, Maraud can oblige again and is awarded my Nap vote.
At Cheltenham, crack jockey Ruby Walsh should make his trip from Ireland worthwhile.
He teams-up with Ad Hoc in the Unicoin New Homes Spa Hurdle and I fancy this versatile eight-year-old will be difficult to beat.
Probaby better known as a chaser, and likely to be aimed at this season's Grand National, Ad Hoc is also a fine hurdler, as he showed on this course earlier in the month when just pipped by the high-class Iris's Gift in a nail-biting finish.
Walsh can also win on Vol Solitaire, likewise trained by Paul Nicholls, in the Unicoin Starter Homes Novices' Chase.
Only a four-year-old, Vol Solitaire has taken well to fences and is well served by the weight conditions of this two miles event.
Orswell Crest (1.00) and Southern Star (2.10) are also worth noting at Cheltenham.
Tuesday's tips:
Catterick
12.2- Knocktopher Abbey, 12.50 Maraud (Nap), 1.20 Garden Party ll, 1.55 Ginnner Morris, 2.30 Diceman, 3.05 Middlethorpe, 3.35 Hombre.
Cheltenham
1.00 Orswell Crest, 1.35 Ad Hoc, 2.10 Southern Star, 2.45 Prokofiev, 3.20 Vol Solitaire, 3.50 Kadito.
Updated: 13:08 Monday, December 30, 2002
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