KEVIN RYAN'S happy knack of acquiring horses from other stables and rekindling their waning enthusiasm could once again be evidence when Super Sammy (2.40) has her first outing for his yard at Haydock today.

Formerly with Mick Easterby, Super Sammy seemed to lose her way last season, possibly as a result of a jolting blunder at Sedgefield's first fence in a novices' chase on Boxing Day.

She never really sparked after that premature exit, ending her campaign on an ignominious note at Market Rasen in May, when pulled up soon after entering the home straight.

Super Sammy's transfer from Sheriff Hutton to the breezy climbs atop Sutton Bank at Ryan's base, plus a whole new training routine and reversion to the smaller obstacles, might just be what the doctor ordered to get her back in the groove for the two-and-a-half-mile race.

Dual Grand National winning jockey Graham Lee not only gets the leg up on Super Sammy, but also aboard Historg, who makes a long-waited comeback in the Harvey Jones Handicap Chase.

A couple of years ago Historg (3.15) was rated in some quarters as a lively outsider for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but since then he has been forced to take a long rest as a result of injury.

Ferdy Murphy's nine-year-old has overcome those problems, and having already demonstrated an ability to handle the track's notorious park fences, it will be no surprise to see him run in the style of a high-class individual.

Much earlier on in proceedings, Greek Star (1.05) exuded sufficient promise on his Wetherby debut to suggest he can be a major force in the opening Bet365 Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Greek Star wasn't any great shakes on the level but judged on his second place to Hernando's Boy at the North Yorkshire track, he has a serious future within the National Hunt ranks.

The gruelling nature of Towcester's course will doubtless claim a few casualties, although one I fancy to come away unscathed is The Last Mohican (1.15).

Following his easy success at Stratford, don't expect anything other than Dramatic Quest to go to post favourite for the Selling Hurdle, but he's a real softie for my money and if it comes to a torrid final-furlong tussle, The Last Mohican's superior courage should settle the issue.

Nottingham's executive has assembled a good field for their feature race, the £20,000 one-mile Conditions Stakes.

After napping Dandoun (3.35) on his belated reappearance at Newmarket, it was a stab in back when John Dunlop's normally reliable colt threw in an absolute stinker to finish right out with the washing.

All horses deserve to be forgiven one bad day at the office, and if Dandoun can bounce back to anything like his best, then victory is no forlorn hope at the Midlands meeting.

Best bet on a busy card at Wolverhampton is Musical Fair (6.20), who returns to her optimum distance of five furlongs having run well enough when fifth over a slightly longer trip last time out.

* Frankie Dettori has been banned for one month after pleading guilty to careless riding in the Melbourne Cup.

The Italian shifted his mount Mamool to the outside of the field, preventing sixth-placed Distinction from moving forward.

The ban begins at midnight on Saturday.

''If it hadn't been for your good record and guilty plea (the ban) may well have been more severe,'' Racing Victoria chief steward Des Gleeson is reported to have told Dettori.

Champion jockey-elect Dettori, who rode Mamool to seventh behind winner Makybe Diva, accepted he had hampered Distinction.

''I thought the interference was minimal but I did make a mistake,'' Dettori said.

The Italian is yet to win Australia's showpiece race, with his best finish a second place on Central Park in 1999.

The timing of the ban allows Dettori to compete in the final meeting of the Flat racing season at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon.

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