HOWLE HILL (3.00) has an excellent each-way chance at odds of around 20-1 in this afternoon's richest race, the £125,000 Tote-sponsored Gold Trophy.

Alan King's classy dual-purpose performer has been in action on the Flat of late, picking up a valuable ten-furlong event at Lingfield, prior to returning to the all-weather venue 14 days ago when he narrowly failed to follow-up having had no luck in running whatsoever.

But it would be stuff and nonsense if we were to simply rely upon the Lingfield evidence to make a solid case for Howle Hill in the Newbury showpiece, so what can we make of his hurdles' form during the past 12 months?

For starters, the selection finished an admirable fifth in the 2004 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Even more crucially, Howle Hill actually led at the last hurdle in that great race, before finding himself unable to cope with the awesome climb to winning line.

Thankfully, Newbury's far flatter landscape seems to suit the five-year-old much better, a point he proved when third to the former Cesarewitch winner, Distant Prospect, and Listed flat scorer, Albuhera, over course and distance in November.

And the form of that event bears up to the closest scrutiny, since just behind in fourth spot was Self Defense, fourth in last year's Champion Hurdle, not to mention smashing up ex-champ Rooster Booster at Kempton's big meeting last Saturday.

As an alternative to Howle Hill, a small saver on Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark is recommended.

The Malton-based seven-year-old is only a novice, however he's running out of his skin and although would prefer a softer surface, has been the subject of a massive ante-post gamble.

"The horse is healthy and in great fettle, he also jumps well and has plenty of speed," said Malcolm about his heavily backed 7-1 second favourite.

l Juddmonte Farms general manager Philip Mitchell was disqualified for three months at the Jockey Club yesterday as the saga over Endless Summer drew to a close, writes TATTENHAM.

Mitchell was called to a disciplinary panel hearing into breaches of the rules which occurred when Endless Summer ran in races restricted to two-year-olds in 2000, including when he won the prestigious Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

It was subsequently revealed that the colt had not been foaled on January 2, as was registered, but on December 26, making him officially a three-year-old at the time of the contests.

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