KINGS MEASURE is napped to rule the roost at tomorrow's televised Chepstow meeting.

The five-year-old, trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson, makes the long journey south to contest the £15,000 Persian War Premier Novices' Hurdle, and is strongly fancied to come through this searching test with flying colours.

An easy winner of two 'bumpers' before finishing a highly creditable fourth to Jet Tabs in a 'championship' race at Chepstow in December, Kings Measure was transferred to hurdles at Haydock last month and created a very favourable impression.

Always travelling strongly, he struck the front approaching the second-last and forged clear to win by five lengths from Tamarindo.

Jefferson has a high opinion of Kings Measure, a potential superstar. Despite the presence of some formidable opposition tomorrow this North Yorkshire gelding is confidently selected to bolster his growing reputation.

BBC1 are covering two other races from Chepstow, the M & N Group Hurdle, in which the fast-improving Splendid Thyne is expected to chalk up his fourth win off the reel, and the John Hughes Grand National Trial, which looks a good opportunity for Ottowa to add to his recent victory at Uttoxeter.

Channel 4 cameras will be a Warwick to cover four races, most notably the Michael Page Group Kingmaker Novices' Chase, the outcome of which could have some bearing on next month's Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

My vote goes to Queen Of Spades, who was far from disgraced when chasing home the well-regarded Wade Road at Ascot recently on her first outing for almost two months. Sure to have benefited from that race, she can go one better tomorrow.

Bitofamixup, a former top-class hunter chaser, trotted-up in a novice chase at Fontwell recently and is on course for the Royal Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He can enhance his Cheltenham claims by winning the Michael Page Legal Novices' Chase.

The smart Song Of The Sword (4.10) and the evergreen Dublin Flyer (4.40) are two others to note at Warwick.

The feature race at Newcastle is the £35,000 Tote Eider Chase over a gruelling four miles and one furlong. My vote here goes to Linden's Lotto, a triple-scorer this season, who won a three and threequarter mile chase over this course last month.

Gordon Richards' gelding, a Grand National entry, has since suffered a defeat at Ayr but the nine-year-old was unsuited by the distance (two and a half miles) of that race and can be excused his below-par display.

The Bob Gorman Signs Handicap Hurdle offers Legendry Line the opportunity to register a hat-trick of wins.

From the in-form Mary Reveley stable this smart performer got off the mark with a seven lengths' success at Kelso and followed up in better company when beating his stablemate Alpine Panther on this course last month. Tomorrow's half mile longer distance promises to be in his favour.

Also worth a second look at Gosforth Park is All The Aces (4.05), who was narrowly beaten by Cattly Hang at Wetherby, a performance which strongly suggested Jonjo O'Neill's useful gelding was a horse to follow.

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