PURPLE SPLASH is today's value wager in the Littleton Handicap Hurdle at Kempton. Peter Makin's seven year old has been a terrific stable servant and showed no signs of wilting on the Flat last year when winning two staying handicaps.

Only lightly raced over hurdles, he made steady progress last season, culminating in a six length defeat of Gales of Laughter at Warwick. That was the first time Purple Splash sported a visor over jumps - he usually wears one for Flat racing and it clearly made a difference.

Purple Splash has a decent turn of foot and that can prove decisive against likely favourite Lessons Lass.

Teaplanter can register a popular win in the Corinthian Hunters' Chase. Caroline Saunders' remarkable 14 year old has never been out of the first four when completing and is some way off becoming a back number judged on his reappearance at Wetherby.

Attempting to win the same race for the fourth successive year, Teaplanter cut out most of the running but just found the younger and useful Cab On Target two lengths too good with the other runners in the next parish.

Cab on Target franked the form by following up last week at Fakenham and Teaplanter meets nothing of that quality today.

Francois Doumen's French raiders warrant maximum respect two weeks ago he brought four across the Channel and three won.

Therefore it should pay to side with Royaltino in the opening Bedfont Novices' Hurdle.

At Southwell, Martin Pipe's runners should make hay against some ordinary opponents. Most notable is Pinkerton's Palinthe, Albatross Novices Hurdle.