It's now or never for Elvis

Wetherby plays host to one of two jumps meetings to signal the start of the 2007-8 season tomorrow, and the Rocom Ltd Handicap Chase can go the way of Malcolm Jefferson’s Elvis Returns.

The son of Alhaatmi had looked well off his peak form this winter but showed glimpses of his best when sixth at Stratford before encountering good ground at Carlisle.

He struck at the Northumberland venue – and had subsequent winner Shannon’s Pride five lengths adrift in second – while sixth-placed Hot Weld franked the form in spectacular fashion by taking the Scottish Grand National.

A 9lb rise in the handicap may not be enough to stop the nine-year-old, who has stamina in abundance and appears at home on quicker summer ground.

Brave Rebellion can land a hat-trick of course-and-distance successes when he returns to the West Yorkshire venue for the “Don’t Miss Ladies’ Evening, Thursday 10th May!” Novices’ Hurdle.

Keith Reveley’s eight-year-old signalled an imminent return to form when second at Market Rasen last month, and built on that promise with a hard-fought success over Ice Tea.

His latest success was far more comprehensive as he bounced off the good ground to score as he pleased by nine lengths.

A repeat performance can see him make it three in a row.

The other National Hunt fixture takes place at Ludlow, which could see a German-trained winner of the totesport.com Handicap Chase in Christian von der Recke’s Quirino.

The six-year-old entire made a successful raid on Britain three starts ago, where the half-brother to Carl Llewellyn’s smart bumper horse Quartano managed to get the better of a protracted battle with Esprit Saint at Towcester.

He has since justified odds of 1-2 at Manheim, and although the form of that run is impossible to translate, a similar effort to that at Towcester should prove enough.

Sunley Shines has done precious little wrong over fences and looks capable of gaining a second success over larger obstacles in the toteexacta Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old was getting frustrating to follow after a couple of second places on testing ground.

However, the switch to a sounder surface worked the oracle at Chepstow last time and a similar performance should be enough.

Brighton’s unique gradients host the sole Flat card of the day.

Nottinghamshire trainer Eoghan O’Neill can make the journey to the south coast worthwhile with Graceful Steps in the Radioreverb Handicap.

After three unsuccessful attempts in maidens as a juvenile, the son of Desert Prince improved for the switch to faster ground and a step up in trip to get off the mark at Nottingham on his handicap debut.

A 4lb hike in the ratings looks far from prohibitive, and he can prove that win was no fluke over a trip that looks sure to suit.