Stone Valley is likely to play prominent all-weather role

PUNTERS are advised to concentrate on the all-weather at Lingfield today with frost threatening the jumps cards at Ludlow and Taunton.

But the National Hunt formbook should still come in handy as it points strongly to the chance of Stoney Valley in the Caveat Emptor Handicap.

The seven-year-old has raced exclusively over hurdles in the last 18 months and developed into a fair handicapper, winning twice last term and running right up to his best this term.

He has certainly shown little sign that he is any worse a horse than when he put up some creditable efforts in early-season Flat races in 1995.

Yet the handicapper has dropped him fully 17lb in the interim, so that he looks very favourably treated for today's return to the level.

Fitness should be no problem for Stoney Valley who was on the go over hurdles right up until the cold snap curtailed all action over jumps.

And the booking of top-flight jockey David Harrison suggests that trainer John Jenkins is determined to make the most of the gelding's favourable mark.

Jason Weaver was the man to follow here on Tuesday when he rode a treble and he has good prospects of a double at least today. His mount Dance With Hooves is the clear form choice for the More Haste Maiden.

And he looks just the man to get the best out of Star Talent in the closing Friend In Need Handicap.

If Ludlow survives an 7.30 inspection this morning, Imperial Vintage will bid for his eighth victory of the season in the Tenbury Handicap Chase. But he could find the concession of a stone to God Speed You beyond him around this tight circuit.

The latter was impressive in scoring here and at the similarly sharp Wincanton in the first half of the season. And he might well have completed a hat-trick on his return to this course last time but for an unenterprising ride.

. Battered jockey Mark Rimmer made a fairytale return to the saddle when steering Galapino to an easy victory in the Tipton Claiming Stakes at foggy Wolverhampton yesterday.

Rimmer broke his collarbone in a horror fall at Lingfield last November and confided: "It was a complicated break and it took two months to get right but I feel really good now as I've been doing plenty of cycling and running to get fit."

And the rider's performance aboard the Giles Bravery-trained four-year-old left no-one in doubt he has recovered fully as he pushed and shoved the colt to a five length call over Eurolink the Lad.

Golden Hadeer became the first horse to notch three victories this year when completing a hat-trick of wins after another clear cut success in the two mile Dudley Handicap.

Opera Buff's marathon six hour haul to the track from Gay Kelleway's Dorset yard proved worthwhile after the gelding got the better of Star Rage by a length for the Manchester Handicap under apprentice Tony Whelan.

Runner up Star Rage, winner of last year's County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, will again have that race on his agenda this March.