Chasing looks like being Flips' game.

Byline: Saraband

MICHEAL Flips is a classy type over hurdles and he is taken to make a seamless switch to fences at Huntingdon.

The five-year-old was undeniably talented over the smaller obstacles and was even considered good enough to run in the Supreme, although he failed to figure at that level.

He carried on the good work at Ascot last month, with Andy Turnell's gelding finishing third in a tight Listed heat to firmly indicate his well-being.

Chasing was always likely to be his game, though, and the two miles of the Kier Eastern Novices' Chase can prove an ideal stepping stone towards better things.

Diablo can preserve Nigel Twiston-Davies' nice run in Hereford's Pertemps People Development Group Novices' Chase.

Although rated as highly as 134 over hurdles, the sharp sevenyear-old was probably just short of Graded class. However, another bright career over fences beckons judged by his two starts this term, jumping pretty well in similar events at Perth and Cheltenham to take two second places.

Minnie Hill got no further than the first on her last start but she can make amends in the Kingwell Restaurant Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton.

Excellent Thought is proving a frustrating filly to follow, but she can reward those who keep the faith in the Colin Barron Memorial Nursery at Kempton.

While not one of Willie Haggas' brighter lights, the juvenile has shown a good deal of ability to be placed on four of her five starts. She went down by a fast-diminshing head on her latest outing over the minimum trip at Wolverhampton, suggesting this return to six furlongs should serve her well.

Excellent Thought seems to be more unlucky than ungenuine and as she gets maximum assistance from the saddle from champion jockey Ryan Moore, the daughter of Exceed And Excel will never have a better chance of shedding her maiden tag.

TODAY'S SARABAND SELECTIONS: HEREFORD: 12.50 Causeway King, 1.20 Star Galaxy, 1.50 Three Ships, 2.20 Diablo, 2.50 Huckleberry, 3.20 Autumn Harvest, 3.50 Queen Octavia. HUNTINGDON: 12.40 Sereth, 1.10 Ashammar, 1.40 Mount Helicon, 2.10 Micheal Flips (nap), 2.40 Good Harvest, 3.10 Seven Stars, 3.40 Blakeneys Pet.

KEMPTON: 4.00 Love Action, 4.30 Inner Angel, 5.00 Penzena, 5.30 Excellent Thought, 6.00 Beckermet, 6.30 Satwa Gold, 7.00 Banda Sea. WINCANTON: 1.00 Vico, 1.30 Baseball Ted, 2.00 Cresswell Ruby, 2.30 Minnie Hill, 3.00 Tarquinius, 3.30 Kyoto. DOUBLE: Micheal Flips and Beckermet.