Guilder hard to oppose

Paul Webber can show his string are in form at just the right time by striking with Guilder at Bangor today.

The Banbury trainer is aiming to hit the jackpot over the next few days with Redemption. He tackles Saturday's Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown and could then bid for a £50,000 bonus in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham - a double Webber almost completed with Carlito Brigante in 1997.

There is no bumper prize to the winner of today's Wrexham LVA Novices' Chase. But the £5,000-added event does offer Guilder a fine chance to get off the mark over fences.

The six-year-old was fairly useful as a hurdler and won twice at Bangor last season. He has gradually been getting his act together in novice chases and showed his winning turn is near when runner-up in a handicap at Leicester in January.

Guilder was caught out by the stiff fences at Wetherby last time and came a cropper before halfway. But he will be hard to beat with a clear round today.

Tony Dobbin was in sparkling form at Sedgefield yesterday when he rode a 545 to 1 treble to take his tally for the season to 61.

Dobbin landed the Frank Scotto Memorial Novices' Chase on the 20 to 1 chance Anubis Quercus and was back in the winner's circle 30 minutes later after guiding Mister Muddypaws (3 to 1 favourite) to victory in the Stan James Telebetting Handicap Chase.

He completed his three-timer when 11 to 2 shot Scotmail Sun held off Realfoodattheffrwd by 1 1/4 lengths in the concluding Alphameric Solutions To Bookmakers Novices' Hurdle.

Veteran staying chaser Samlee earned a tilt at next month's Scottish National with a dour performance under Tony McCoy to take the Tote Haldon National Chase Showcase Handicap at Exeter yesterday. Philip Hobbs's 11-year-old answered all of the champion jockey's urgings to keep up the gallop in the stamina-sapping three and three-quarter mile contest and stretch 25 lengths clear of Bally Lira who snatched the runner-up spot from Folly Road in the dying strides.

McCoy had earlier initiated a 17 to 1 double when Martin Pipe's Manx Magic regained the winning thread with an authoritative victory in the Frank Dodd Novices' Hurdle.

Tim Reed was suspended for two days (March 17th and 18th) for using his whip without allowing the unplaced Liam Of Melgate time to respond in the Levy Board National Hunt Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield yesterday.