HAT-TRICK seeking Tee-Jay (3.00) is still at the right end of the weights for Kelso's John Sale Handicap Chase over 3 miles.

If you happen to dig staying chasers then this is your bag since not one of the nine closely- matched contestants can be dismissed with confidence.

Pessimistic Dick and D J Flippance should be involved as they're nicely handicapped, and gave a good account when second and fourth respectively at the course last time out.

But neither may have the necessary firepower to repel Tee-Jay, who has been a revelation of late, scoring in scintillating style on his latest couple of visits to Hexham.

You can't whack Cheltenham form, so the fact You're Special (1.50) prevailed at the headquarters of jump racing last season says plenty about the top-weight in the Scottish Countryside Alliance Handicap Chase.

You're Special was in the care of Patrick Haslam in those days, but he's now moved a few miles down the road to Ferdy Murphy's Wynbury stables, situated in the village of West Witton in the heart of Wensleydale.

Although Murphy might have thought he'd acquired a pup when the eight-year-old was pulled up on the first run for the yard, the selection showed his true mettle when third at Huntingdon ten days ago.

Barring accidents Ferdy will win the opener via the heavily-odds on L'Antartique (12.20), and if You're Special adds to his tally, a treble looms large courtesy of Blue Rising (2.25) in Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

Whilst performing respectably when fourth on his Aintree reappearance, it was clear Keith Mercer's mount was not 100 per cent because, having cruised up to the heels of the leaders, Blue Rising then ran out of steam at the second flight from home.

Mercer has mastered the art of not punishing horses once they've emptied and his kindness looks likely to be repaid with a deserved victory in the £4,500 low-grade event.

The closure of Ascot means the immensely valuable £40,000 Blue Square Hurdle has temporarily been switched to Windsor.

Howard Johnson, on the mark with Julius Caesar at Market Rasen yesterday, despatches No Refuge down to the south London venue and the Graham Wylie-owned Cheltenham Festival hero merits serious respect.

There is, however, a major fly in the ointment for No Refuge in the guise of Windsor's easy track, which doesn't present anything like the stamina test of Prestbury Park's fierce uphill finish.

In the circumstances I prefer to stick with Royal Shakespeare (3.10), who recently stormed back to his best with a two-mile triumph at Wincanton, a race that was run at blistering pace.

The half-mile step up in trip holds no fears for Royal Shakespeare, already successful at the distance for his vastly underrated handler, Lincolnshire-based Steve Gollings.

* Tom Taaffe will give full respect to each of Kicking King's seven rivals in tomorrow's Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was among a top-class field declared for the inaugural running of the £150,000 race, the first leg of an eagerly-awaited three-race series.

A £1m bonus is on offer to the owner of any horse that can win at Haydock before going on to lift the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day and the Gold Cup - both of which were won by Kicking King last year.

The Irish challenger is even-money favourite to put himself in line for the mega bonus and he received a timely boost when War Of Attrition, his conqueror at Punchestown last month, was successful at Clonmel on Thursday.

However, Kicking King faces a strong challenge from some talented rivals, including fellow Irish raider Beef Or Salmon and impressive Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern.

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