IT WOULD be folly to overlook Rigadin De Beauchene in what promises to be a rare old tussle for the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick today.

The old boy won the Grade Three handicap three years ago and looked as well as ever at Haydock last month after a lengthy spell in the abyss.

Venetia Williams' 11-year-old excelled in The Last Fling Chase on Merseyside, where he made all of the running en route to a three-length defeat of Harry The Viking.

The rearranged Welsh National had been mooted as a possible next assignment, so it is quite interesting his wise handler Williams kept him under wraps for a week longer.

Critics will point to a bad run in this race 12 months ago, when he was pulled up, but Rigadin De Beauchene did not look quite right last year – a fact compounded by the fact he was in thrall to the handicapper.

And although he is hardly running off a featherweight back at Warwick, a 6lb rise for his uplifting Haydock triumph should not put the mockers on.

A proven stayer, a proven course performer and a proven operator in the mud, Rigadin De Beauchene rates a sensible selection in what does not look – pardon the pun – a classic.

Brian Ellison thinks quite a bit of VIENS CHERCHER, who could cause a bit of a stir in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

A half-brother to L'Ami Serge, the five-year-old made an instant impression following his transfer from France by winning back-to-back races over hurdles.

He perhaps found it all too much in a Supreme trial at Cheltenham on November 15, but Ellison's positivity was partially vindicated in a Listed event at Haydock a few weeks later.

Viens Chercher finished a two-and-a-quarter-length second to Welsh Shadow, who was promptly elevated into Grade One company, and was hardly going backwards once the winning line approached.

Little wonder, then, that Ellison steps up to two miles and five furlongs at Warwick, where the prospect of a quagmire should hold no terrors.

The progressive Viens Chercher likes to get on with things and could feasibly bustle his way home without seeing another rival.

RUN RUCTIONS RUN is worth a dart against L'Ami Serge in the Live Betting At 188bet.co.uk Novices' Chase at Wetherby.

Trained by the ever-reliable Tim Easterby, the seven-year-old mare has done nicely since she went chasing, with an accomplished victory at this track in November the high-water mark.

Next up was a tough-looking mares' Listed race at Doncaster, where she was probably always fighting a lost cause against two potential top-notchers in Ma Filleule and Emily Gray.

Back on a track at which she has won three times, Run Ructions Run will give a good account – and while L'Ami Serge will be long odds-on, runners from his yard have been turned over at these sort of prices before.

LAMAR is at the top of her form and can rattle off another all-weather victory in the toteexacta Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford.

The five-year-old mare beat Captain Cat out of sight in a good race over a mile at Lingfield last week and will not be unruffled by this return to seven furlongs.

MUTAWATHEA can banish memories of a rather wayward display at Kempton last time when he runs in the Ladbrokes Handicap at Lingfield.

The five-year-old gelding, trained by Simon Crisford, was far too keen in the London Mile Handicap, eventually finishing sixth.

Yet his form before that was really good and, although he must shoulder top weight, Robert Havlin can be trusted to get Mutawathea to settle much better from stall five.