JAMES VICTOR has an excellent opportunity to build on his recent 66-1 shock success by winning the opening race at Stratford today.

Granted there was an element of good fortune when James Victor opened his account over jumps at Exeter last month because the clear leader, Waterspray, appeared to have matters well under control until launching his hapless rider into orbit with a calamitous blunder at the final fence.

Still, if you don't jump you can't win, and James Victor, who to be fair hadn't touched a twig all the way round, took full advantage of his rival's untimely exit to record an easy four-length triumph.

The increased amount of prize-money on offer at the meeting has not escaped the beady eyes of leading Irish handler Christy Roche, who has put together a pretty powerful raiding party, plus secured the services of Tony McCoy for his horses.

Perhaps of major interest, especially to those shopping around at relatively skinny odds, is Which Half (5.00), bidding to take the closing Claydon Exercisers Maiden Hurdle.

Which Half has made the frame on all four of his lifetime starts to date, an admirable level of consistency that deserves the ultimate reward of filling the number-one spot in the extended two-mile-and-six-furlong contest.

There's not quite so much gilt in the kitty at Taunton, nevertheless the action is extremely competitive, none more so than the 16-runner Staple Fitzpaine Handicap Hurdle.

Fast ground in the autumn may have unhinged Millkom Elegance (4.10), but if the forecast rain arrives on cue, she might well be able to recapture the sparkle demonstrated at Sedgefield last season when running away with a not too dissimilar event.

In the following Bickenhall Handicap Chase, Bak To Bill (4.40) holds outstanding claims.

Lucy Gardener's mount, who generally gets from one side of his obstacles to the other with an impressive level of proficiency, should be suited by the sharp nature of the track, ideal for habitual trail-blazers such as Bak To Bill.

Hold-up horses normally excel at Lingfield, so it wouldn't be shooting for the stars to expect Aoninch (3.50) to play a prominent part in the Barclaycard Business Handicap.

Virtually always ridden from well off the pace, Aoninch will almost definitely be lurking in the rear over the first ten furlongs, however she's got gears and could well burst through the pack come the final 100 yards when other legs are turning to jelly.

In terms of sheer class, Sharplaw Star (3.20) stands head-and-shoulders above the majority of horses on parade at the Surrey course.

The Willie Haggas-trained two-year-old sandwiched a superb third-placing at Royal Ascot between two wins at Leicester and Beverley, form which suggests the speedy two-year-old will comfortable outgun her opponents in the five-furlong Eleanor Harrington Conditions Stakes.

* Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey Carl Llewellyn recorded a 35-1 Cheltenham double with Gazump and Ollie Magern, but it was a day tempered by the fatal fall of the stable's top prospect, Lord Gale.

The local yard have been in great early-season form and 7-1 shot Gazump sparked the brace, producing a faultless round of jumping to win the extended two-and-a-half-mile Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance Novices' Handicap Chase.

Twiston-Davies said: ''I almost sent him to the Doncaster sales last year, but he won a race just beforehand so we didn't - and now he's won three since. He jumped beautifully. Patience pays, I suppose.''

There was better to come in the Ian Williams Owners Novices' Chase when Ollie Magern (7-2) upset the Martin Pipe-trained odds-on favourite Comply Or Die with a deeply impressive round of jumping.

The six-year-old had plenty in hand at the finish of the extended three-mile chase, with Llewellyn easing down to win by two and a half lengths.

''Carl said that he is the best jumper he has ever ridden,'' said Twiston-Davies.

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