SUE SMITH'S superb record at Haydock looks all set to be maintained by the game gelding Cill Churnain in the Harvey Jones Handicap Chase (2.10).

The Bingley-based handler has enjoyed some of her highest-profile successes at the venue courtesy of The Last Fling, who relished the challenge of tackling the notorious king-size fences.

Although Cill Churnain isn't on a par with The Last Fling, he's still capable of earning his corn, a point underlined by his latest excellent third placing in a decent race at Aintree.

With question marks hanging over the heads of his main rivals, especially in the jumping department, the 12-year-old could yet prove to be the best each-way wager in a competitive two-and-a-half-miler.

Tony Dobbin's long-standing association with Nicky Richards' stable has been mutually beneficial to each party over the past few years.

The ever-shrewd Richards gets them ready on the gallops while there's no better man to have on your side in the saddle than Dobbin for the essential job of bringing home the bacon.

The pair represent a pretty lethal combination and it will be no surprise if they click once again via Zaffaran Express (2.45) in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

Apart from ignominiously hitting the deck on an ill-fated trip to Catterick, Zaffaran Express made the frame in her other six starts during a lucrative 2004/05 season, the highlight of the mare's campaign coming at Bangor, when drubbing Gordon Highlander by ten lengths.

Best bet at Towcester is the darling of the local punters, Runaway Bishop (2.20), bidding to win his fourth race at the Northamptonshire track.

His supporters certainly went away on good terms with themselves when Runaway Bishop landed a substantial gamble over two-miles-and-three furlongs at the course just 11 days ago.

The victory was all the more meritorious as it was over a trip short of the selection's optimum, a factor trainer John Cornwall has addressed this afternoon by shifting the selection up a further three furlongs in distance.

Linda Perratt's horses have been under a cloud for much of the year, laid low by a cruel virus which they simply couldn't shrug off however hard the staff worked.

Eventually the gloom lifted in early September, allowing Balwearie (2.30) to burst into life with a hard-fought Thirsk and Ayr double.

From a handicapping point of view the net effect of that impressive brace has not been anything like as harsh as one would imagine, since he's only been raised a total of 7lbs.

Such largesse from the controllers of the weights is rare these days and the advice from this quarter is to lump on Musselburgh-bound Balwearie before the Official Handicapper gets wise.

Not for the first time Mark Johnston teases his fans by putting up two fancied runners, Hearthstead Wings (3.05) plus Kindling, for the feature event on the card, the two-mile £30,000 totesport Willie Park Stakes.

The former kicked off in March with realistic hopes of competing in one Derby or another.

Although those heady dreams have fallen on stony ground, there's still time for Hearthstead Wings to follow-up September's Hamilton win with another triumph on Scottish soil.

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