AFTER a break of almost two months, the first Bangor-on-Dee meeting in 2006 takes place this afternoon.

Following an exceptionally dry January trainers have been attracted by the prospect of good ground.

The course will have benefited from the rain earlier this week and this is reflected in the quality of entries received at the five-day stage.

The feature race over the smaller obstacles is the £10,000 JPCS Novices' Hurdle run over a trip of three miles.

Heading the weights are two horses with live Cheltenham prospects next month who will compete for favouritism in the betting.

Black Jack Ketchum maintained his un-beaten run in good style when scoring over this distance at Cheltenham back in December in a Grade Two contest. The gelding has also been entered at Warwick tomorrow.

Trainer Paul Nicholls stated that his charge, Denman will only run if there is sufficient cut in the ground. The six-year-old is also defending an unbeaten record and the scene of his last triumph was also Cheltenham on January 1 in a Grade Two hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.

In the event of the two multiple winners going elsewhere, one to consider is Ballyshan, who has proven his stamina over this trip when scoring at Chepstow in a maiden event. Gritti Palace has also raced over this trip when finishing second at Towcester last month and despite stepping up in class may finish in the frame.

Lost In Normandy, trained by Lisa Williamson of Saighton, was denied a win at Wetherby last month due to a misjudgement by the jockey. The nine-year-old is a consistent type, a course winner and well in at the weights so could go close in the marathon three-mile-six-furlong Cazenove Capital Management Handicap Chase.

Precious Bane is an improving type and won over three miles on his last appearance and is the selection.

Always a competitive event, the Gilbert Cotton Memorial Hunters Chase has again attracted a good entry this year.

Silence Reigns, who won this last year may again face the highly regarded Foly Pleasant who finished in second place. They are two of the likely few to be the market leaders which often proves a useful guide in this type of event.

Ginger McCain's Cholmondeley string is in winning form as illustrated by a double at Sedgefield on Monday. Flame Phoenix remains high in the handicap and may again have to settle for a place in the Middleton & Co Solicitors Handicap Hurdle.

Kayceecee has risen in the weights following a convincing victory at Warwick in January on his handicap debut and should improve to frank that form.

Entries for the 2006 John Smith's Grand National, with added prize money of £700,000 were announced last week. Among the 148 entries are Ebony Light and Amberleigh House, the winner of this world-famous race in 2004, both trained by Aintree legend Ginger McCain.

Forest Gunner, who finished an admirable fifth last year, has also been entered by his trainer Richard Ford of Little Budworth. The weights will be announced on February 14 as the build-up to the race-day on April 8 continues.