FEW trainers become legends in their own lifetime, but it is an accolade which can rightly be bestowed upon David Chapman, responsible for Quito (2.25) in this afternoon's Racing Post Weekender Stakes at Doncaster.

The 70-year-old Stillington-based handler is one of the most popular members of his profession to be found anywhere in the land, universally admired for his uncanny ability to turn cheaply bought horses into a money-spinning machines.

Quito is a fine example of his exquisite workmanship having been snapped up by Chapman at the Newmarket Sales just over two years ago for a sum well under £10,000.

Since then, the dashing bay gelding has confirmed Chapmans's reputation for being one the sport's best bargain hunters by scooping a cool £130,000 in prize-money.

There is no question that Quito's finest hour came when collecting the 2003 Ayr Gold Cup because it was race "Chappers" had dreamed all his life of winning - a feat which had previously eluded him, even with the likes of Chaplins Club, Glencroft, and the mighty, Soba, at his disposal.

"I'm not sure who's more tired - him or me," said David famously after Quito had blazed to glory at the west of Scotland course.

But the fairytale did not end there, as almost unbelievably, the seven-year-old hasn't stopped improving, arguably putting up a career-topping performance at Newmarket last Friday when third to Royal Millennium and Moss Vale in the Group One six-furlong Bentinck Stakes.

Quito only needs to reproduce that level of form to take this afternoon's £12,000 contest, in fact, I reckon he could run a pound or two below his optimum and still be too good for the opposition, seeing as the soft ground is certain to be in his favour.

While limited resources have always forced Chapman to shop around on cheap street, no such cash restrictions have been placed on rich-kid Aidan O'Brien, whose Ballydoyle stables houses some of the finest thoroughbreds money can buy.

Armed with colossal firepower, Aidan has unsurprisingly managed to win no less than five of the last eight Group 1 Racing Post Trophies awarded on the Town Moor.

And in his bid to make it six from nine, the choirboy-faced Irish-ace sends over Hills Of Aran, plus his main hope Albert Hall (3.30), who was priced at 510,000 guineas when bought by Mrs John Magnier, one of O'Brien's principal patrons.

Currently trading at approximately 6-4, I for one wouldn't be tempted to take such ludicrously short odds about Albert Hall, preferring instead to have a small each-way wager on Elliots World (3.30), who looks far better value at 10-1.

Mark Johnston's colt won twice at York, prior to an excellent fourth placing over today's trip of one-mile in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on September 29.

He's also quoted at 66-1 with some firms for next year's Epsom Derby, not a bad ante-post investment for a very smart three-year-old middle-distance animal in the making.

There are a couple of terrific jumps races at Kempton, notably a three-mile Handicap Chase for the IbetX.com Gold Cup.

Sedgefield-born Andrew Thornton is the right sort of guy to have on your side in such high-profile affairs, consequently be sure not discount his partner, Peccadillo (3.55).

The in-form pair made a highly impressive reappearance at Huntingdon, whipping a fair field by six lengths in a common canter.

That race was run on a fast surface over two-and-a-half-miles, however the versatile Peccadillo is equally effective on easy ground at three-miles, all of which leads me to believe Thornton will be in pole position come the final fence for the £30,000 south London showpiece.

Although 20 go to post for he Sir Gerald Whent Memorial Nursery at Newbury, it doesn't look a great heat on paper and so it might be worth chancing Joe Fanning's mount, Adoration (3.45).

Adoration started the season promisingly enough with a couple of placed efforts at York and Doncaster.

His form admittedly tailed off in the summer, nonetheless it is far too soon to write off the northern raider, especially in view of the fact that the official handicapper has not been at all harsh on the Middleham-trained juvenile.

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