Seek The Faith could be an aptly-named winner at Southwell today. It would appear to take plenty of "faith" to rely on a veteran who failed to complete the course on his only outing in the past two season.
But there are good grounds for thinking he represents the best bet in the Little John Chase, the uncompetitive "Showcase Handicap".
The 10-year-old is undeniably well handicapped on a mark of just 122, having won good contests at Cheltenham and Newbury in his prime - not to mention finishing fifth in the Arkle Chase in 1996.
He was even thought good enough to tackle the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the National Hunt Festival in 1998.
That effort hinted strongly that the gelding retains his ability which gives Seek The Faith a cracking chance today, and the booking of Welsh National-winning rider Richard Johnson is an added bonus.
Saint Cecilia is a more obvious choice for the Robin Hood Handicap Hurdle. She was beaten for lack of peak fitness when just touched off on her reappearance at Taunton earlier this month and should go one place better.
See More Business has been officially rated on a par with One Man following his second victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.
British Horseracing Board steeplechase handicapper Phil Smith said yesterday: "I've put See More Business up to 177 (from 170). I've taken into account that the second and third, Go Ballistic and Dr Leunt, ran as expected on revised terms from Chepstow.
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