FIERY SPICE is perhaps a well-named individual and while he does not seem to be totally straightforward, he should be good enough in the 32Red Casino Handicap at Newcastle.

Robert Cowell's charge did not appear to have much about him as he finished last of nine on his racecourse bow at Wolverhampton before Christmas, but he shaped with a little more promise when third at Lingfield next time out.

He still looked a bit green on that occasion as he hung across the track before staying on for minor honours, so it was maybe not a total shock to connections when he put all the pieces together at Southwell last time.

Sent off a 16-1 shot, Fiery Spice again charted a less than smooth course but proved good enough in what was admittedly a weak maiden affair.

The fact he only won by a length means the handicapper was limited in terms of Fiery Spice's starting mark, and he looks as though he could shape much better than his starting point of 62 in time.

Art Obsession made a pleasing return from a lengthy lay-off at Newcastle on February 1 and he can build on that in the Betway Handicap.

The six-year-old broke a blood vessel at Catterick last October and Paul Midgley gave him plenty of time to recover from that before pitching him into an apprentice heat at Gosforth Park.

The lack of a run probably told that day but there was no disgrace in finishing third, beaten just a length, and Art Obsession should be fitter for the outing.

Chiswick Bey can complete a quick course and distance double in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap.

The nine-year-old has proved pretty consistent in recent months, eventually landing his due reward when triumphing by three-quarters of a length in mid-February.

Pilansberg can spearhead a double for Paul Nicholls at his local Wincanton track.

The five-year-old was quite useful on the Flat, placing twice at Group Three level, including when beaten just under two lengths by subsequent Grade One victor Erupt.

A 100,000 guineas purchase in October 2015, Pilansberg was beaten out of sight by stablemate Zubayr in the Adonis on his jumps bow and Nicholls opted to draw stumps for the campaign.

Returned to action at Fakenham back in October, Pilansberg turned in a decent effort to beat Barkis but a step back up to Grade Two level at Cheltenham the following month ended in another heavy defeat.

He is clearly not a world beater, but a mark of 124 looks most reasonable judged on the pick of his Flat form.

At the other end of the scale, Pacha Du Polder holds few secrets any more and he can secure back-to-back victories in the 188Bet "Grassroots" Hunters' Chase.

The 10-year-old famously provided Victoria Pendleton with her first win under Rules in this event last year before the pair went on to finish an admirable fifth in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham.

A winner at Bangor last month, Pacha Du Polder is once again coming right in time for the Festival and a win here will seal his place in the line-up on the fourth day of the Festival.

G'Day Aussie can bring up a hat-trick in the totepool Betting At betfred.com Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh.

Brian Ellison has clearly been biding his time with this four-year-old, likely hoping to miss the worst of the winter ground given that his two pre-Christmas wins came on good conditions.

An 11-length winner at Fakenham in December, the handicapper has hiked him 12lb, but that might not be enough to stop this progressive individual.

Royal Village looks the type to make a fine chaser in time, but he should be smart enough over the smaller obstacles in the Hugh James Novices' Hurdle.

A half-brother to Village Vic, Royal Village lifted a bumper earlier in the campaign before having to settle for third on his hurdles bow.