County Durham trainer Howard Johnson, who was on the mark at Catterick yesterday with Teme Valley, can follow-up with Big Max at Musselburgh tomorrow - provided the meeing beats the forecast frost.

Clerk of the course Bill Farnsworth said: "If the forecast is right I would not be very hopeful. The temperature is not expected to get above +3C today, which means that the ground will be cold when we expect another frost tonight."

Johnson will be hoping for the best. Having had a slow start to the season, he is now starting to get into gear and Nap selection Big Max has every chance of increasing the momentum in the Ladbroke Casino Glasgow Handicap Hurdle.

A previous winner on this course, Adie Smith's mount chased home the useful Roveretto here last month on his first outing for ten weeks.

A reproduction of that form would surely be good enough to see him involved in the finish tomorrow.

Brian Ellison, who has his horses in fine form, can lift division one of the Ladbroke Maybury Casino Novices' Hurdle with Shalbeblue.

A decent third on his hurdling debut in a valuable event at Wetherby, Shalbeblue recently scored an all-weather victory on the Flat at Southwell.

Thought by Ellison to be a promising dual-purpose performer, he can prove his mettle here in the hands of Tony Dobbin.

In the Ladbroke Casino Aberdeen Novices' Chase, Deep Water has the class to concede weight to his rivals.

A former high-class hurdler, Micky Hammond's gelding has won his last two starts over fences. A hat-trick looks a possibility with Brian Harding in the saddle.

Folkestone stages tomorrow's other jumping meeting and the presence of champion jockey on the back of Lightning Star looks significant in the North Foreland Selling Hurdle.

McCoy was on winner Amitge when Lightning Star finished a four lengths runner-up at Fontwell recently. It is hoped that his brilliant riding efforts can now persuade Tom McGovern's charge to go one better.

Twinnings Grove gets my vote in the Tina Jenkins Birthday Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old, restricted to two outings last season, should be all the better for his recent third-placed comeback race. Twinnings Grove will have the assistance of David Dennis, one of the season's leading conditional riders and excellent value for his 5lb allowance.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Musselburgh

12.50 Shalbeblue

1.20 Noble Pasao

1.50 Golden Thunderbolt

2.20 Deep Water

2.50 Jordan's Ridge

3.20 Briano

3.50 Big Max (Nap).

Folkestone

1.30 Cybele Eria

2.00 Copper Shell

2.30 Lightning Star

3.00 Twinnings Grove

3.30 Sir Valentine

4.00 Best Of The Girls.

SOUTHWELL

12.10 Evezio Rufo

12.40 Red Cafe

1.10 Kestral

1.40 Urgent Swift

2.10 Companion

2.40 Rex Is Okay

3.10 Flowing Rio

3.40 Polwhele.

Updated: 12:22 Thursday, January 11, 2001