Raivue can surprise some decent hurdling prospects first time up in the French Ballerina Novices' Hurdle at Wetherby today. A decent performer on the level with Ernie Weymes - rated 81 - the four-year-old was bought by ex-trainer Peter Easterby for 34,000 gns at Doncaster's October Sale.

The gelding, who has the stamp to maker a chaser in time, is trained by Easterby's son Tim, whose yard is in good form and Raivue can keep up the good work by getting his new career off to a winning start.

Another Time was another decent sort on the level, Castletown Count ran well at this course when second to Woodfield Gale last month and Lord Lamb is a high-class bumper performer who showed a good level of form on the Flat this year.

But the vibes emanating from Habton suggest that Raivue can continue his stable's excellent record at the West Yorkshire course and surprise his shorter-priced rivals.

Easterby can initialise a double through course-specialist Cumbrian Challenge, who can record his ninth success at the west Yorkshire track in the Mitsubishi Mobile Phones Chase.

This grand servant has won four times over the two-mile chase course - the distance of today's race - as well as three times over an extra half-mile. And his first-ever triumph was in a two-mile hurdle back in December 1993.

The first four of his victories last season were at Wetherby - the other being at Doncaster - and the nine-year-old showed that he is far from being a back number in two starts this term round his favourite circuit last month.

Both races were over two and a half miles with a fair fourth to Forestal being followed by an even better four lengths runner-up to Profluent.

He will be primed for success now especially as he is dropping back to two miles.

Scotton Green should overturn last month's course form with Master Wood in the Coolmore Stud Novices' Chase but both should have to give best to Paddy's Return.

A high-class hurdler, trainer Ferdy Murphy has told punters that a disappointing performance on his reappearance can be put down to the bottomless going.

With the turf in better condition here, punters should step in for the six-year-old.