Dirk Cove can step up in class

Richard Rowe can edge back to centre stage by scoring with Dirk Cove at Fontwell today. The Sussex trainer has been largely out of the limelight since winning the Whitbread Gold Cup with the ill-fated Eulogy in 1999.

But attention focuses on his local track Fontwell today as the course provides the only jumps racing in Britain or Ireland.

And the media-friendly Rowe should be beaming in front of the Channel 4 television cameras after the closing Hasseroder Handicap Hurdle.

This £15,000-added event offers his young hurdler Dirk Cove a fine chance to land the biggest prize of his career to date.

The six-year-old has been highly impressive in brushing aside lesser opposition at Towcester and Taunton this term.

He looked ripe for a step up in class when scoring on the latter track, where he won with a good deal more to spare than a margin of three-quarters of a length might imply.

Stable-companion Mullintor bids to repeat last year's win in the feature Victor Chandler Sussex National earlier on the card.

But the nine-year-old is 14lb higher in the weights this time and showed little on his recent reappearance over hurdles.

So Rowe may have to give best to his neighbour and former boss Josh Gifford, who has a record second to none at this track and could scoop the second running of its biggest race with Lordberniebouffant.

Gifford's seven-year-old is potentially very well handicapped with just 10st 8lb to carry in this 0-125 event, having won a Grade Three novice hurdle at Sandown the season before last.

He defied unsuitably firm ground to win a three-mile novice chase at Huntingdon in September and was then beaten for speed in a 21-furlong contest at Fakenham.

The gelding is a dour stayer who will be far more effective now that he steps up to three and a half miles.

Underfoot conditions will also be perfect for Lordberniebouffant, who can ensure this £20,000 added event stays in Sussex.

Augusta Brook could well make it third time lucky after two recent second places by taking the Barnham Bridge Inn Novices' Handicap Chase.

And the Welsh National-winning team of Venetia Williams and Brian Crowley can continue their winning run by combining to lift division one of thehorsesmouth.co.uk Novices' Hurdle with Avalon Buck.

Best bet on the hastily-arranged allweather Flat meeting at Lingfield may be Saafend Rocket in the opening Angel Nursery.