Chances of the meeting at Stratford taking place today have increased after a precautionary inspection yesterday afternoon.

Another precautionary inspection will be held this morning but the course was raceable yesterday afternoon after a windy and sunny day.

The meeting arranged for Nottingham today has been abandoned due to water-logging. Heavy rain had put the card in serious doubt and a further one and a quarter inches put paid to the fixture.

The Next Waltz can lead his rivals a merry dance in today's Scottish Equitable/Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield.

The Len Lungo-trained seven-year-old has chalked up a hat-trick this autumn, with two victories at Kelso and one at Carlisle. And he had earlier won twice in the summer at Perth and Hexham.

His confidence has been restored by a switch to the smaller obstacles after an unsuccessful attempt at novice chasing last term. Soft ground will no pose no problem to the son of 1978 Doncaster Cup winner Buckskin.

Roi De La Chasse appeared to show vastly improved form when third to Farfields Prince on his reappearance at Hexham earlier this month. With that run under his belt, the Chris Grant-trained five-year-old may get off the mark in the EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Qualifier.

Several horses who were in action at Sedgefield's last meeting two weeks ago have sound claims for a winning return to the track.

Polo Pony showed his appreciation for a battle and a stamina test when hanging on grimly by a head from I'm The Man in a handicap chase over three miles and three furlongs. He can repeat the trick in the Freedom Professional Handicap Chase.

Castle Red ran a game race in defeat when beaten a length and a half by Sliema Creek in a novice chase over two miles and five furlongs. He can go on to open his jumping account in the Jayne Thompson Memorial Novices' Chase.

Strong John only had a spare over Real Fire in the conditional jockeys' selling hurdle on the same card, having led from the seventh flight. He may take now the Stonegrave Aggegates Selling Handicap Hurdle.

The ex-Eugene O'Sullivan-trained Cope With Reality made an impressive British debut in winning a bumper by eight lengths at the same meeting and should be good enough in the bumper.