FORMER Hong Kong-based champion apprentice jockey, Stanley Chin, has struck up a fine partnership with Woody Valentine, a leading contender for this afternoon's Persimmon Homes Handicap.

After a slow start to his UK career, Chin is gradually finding his feet in the northern hemisphere, helped in no small part by Mark Johnston, who has given Stanley plenty of opportunities over the past few months to showcase his skills on British soil.

Chin's prowess aboard Woody Valentine (2.10) was certainly in evidence when he cajoled the three-year-old to victory at Pontefract in April and Epsom in July. The first-named success was achieved on ground conditions similar to those he will encounter at Doncaster, where he also returns to his optimum trip of ten furlongs, having narrowly failed to prevail over one-mile last time out.

Henry Candy has a record second-to-none in the always competitive Yearling Sales Races, pointing positively to the prospects of Seamus Shindig (2.45) for the DBS October Stakes.

Seamus Shindig boasts a 100 per cent record with one win from one start at Pontefract in September. Interestingly there was a lorry- load of cash for the selection, suggesting connections knew they had a really speedy youngster with which to go to war.

Juveniles invariably improve 5-7lb from their debut, and it is therefore not unreasonable to expect Seamus Shindig to be in at the finish, despite a numerically large field, plus some strong opposition.

In the opener at Newbury the value each-way bet may well turn out to be Tom Forest (1.15), who is having his first run for James Fanshawe.

The son of Forest Cat used to be trained by Andy Crook at Ashgill near Middleham, a venue from which he demonstrated a good deal of ability, including a cracking effort to chase home Spirit Of France at Ripon in the spring

The Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes has attracted a top-class clique of two-year-olds, making life extremely hard for even the most discerning punters.

Lambourn's Brian Meehan holds an enviably strong hand with both The Pheasant Flyer and Zohar in with a shout for the £40,000 seven-furlong affair.

The Pheasant Flyer underlined his claims with a gritty triumph at Newmarket, while the unexposed Zohar produced a dashing display to score with ease first time out at Haydock.

We don't really know too much about Zohar (2.20), but his pedigree hints that he will be suited by a soft surface.

This, combined with the fact he now steps up in distance, might enable him to cause a mini-upset against some basically far more experienced rivals.

Jump fans have a couple of decent events to get stuck into at Fakenham, perhaps the most intriguing race on the card being the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Hurdle, for which none of the eight runners can be confidently discounted.

Although Swallow Magic flopped last time, he would be a threat on the pick of his form, a remark that also applies to the ultra-consistent Half Inch.

Either of those could be in the shake-up, but preference is marginally for Vigoureux, a most impressive winner at Uttoxeter, where he beat off a good-looking bunch standing with a power-packed surge from the final flight.

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