HUGS DANCER can add to last year's thrilling success in the Ebor Handicap by taking this afternoon's £120,000 Chester Cup.

One of the most improved staying handicappers in training during 2002, the performance of Hugs Dancer at York confirmed the opinion that his up-and-coming young handler James Given was heading right to the top of the training tree.

And having won the Ebor, Hugs Dancer then went on to finish a gallant sixth in the Newmarket Cesarewitch on an unsuitably soft surface, not that the Official Handicapper appeared to be impressed, over-generously in my view leaving him on a mark of 92.

Given had originally pencilled in a dig at next week's Yorkshire Cup with the selection, but instead has opted for what on paper at least is a far easier task at the famous Roodee circuit.

Further encouragement stems from the fact that Hugs Dancer has run well when fresh in the past; loves to hear his hooves rattle; plus has an ideal low draw in the number two stall.

The dangers are manifold, including the ante-post favourite Fortune Island, so impressive when scoring at Kempton 18 days ago. Martin Pipe has a cracking record with his long distance horses on the flat so it won't do any harm to have a small "saver" on his ultra-progressive four-year-old.

In the preceding Cheshire Oaks, Hammiya (2.25) attempts to make the gigantic leap from Beverley maiden winner to Listed class victory.

It's a tall order for the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned filly.

Nonetheless Hammiya could not be much better bred being a daughter of Darshaan out of a Sadler's Wells mare.

And the way she put a couple of strongly-fancied rivals to the sword at Beverley suggests she might be up to the job despite the obvious drawback of her lack of experience.

The opening Bank Of Scotland Stakes is a typically tough three-year-old race for punters to try and unravel at this time of year. As is usually the case nowadays this morning's business on the betting exchanges should prove a useful guide as to which contenders are uppermost in backers' minds.

Without having access to that invaluable mine of information my stab at a profitable each-way wager in the contest is Double Obsession (1.55).

Mark Johnston's raider has never raced beyond seven furlongs in his life so his stamina must be taken on trust over the much longer mile-and-a-half trip.

But such challenges are rarely a problem to any of Johnston's horses, especially as Double Obsession's reasonably stout pedigree suggests he should see out the distance without a too much trouble.

For National Hunt fans Wetherby stage a hugely-competitive evening fixture, bolstered by the fact that ground will be on the easy side of good.

Such conditions may well help Richard Guest's Night Fighter (7.20) recapture his form in the most valuable race on the card, the £8,000 Wedding Venue Handicap Chase.

Night Fighter, ridden by the massively talented amateur Larry McGrath, not only normally jumps well, but also has a smashing turn of foot when in the mood.

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