LEADING independent owner Reg Bond puts plenty of his hard-earned cash in the game and he deserves reward by picking up this afternoon's £70,000 Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes on St Leger Day at Doncaster.

North Yorkshire-based Reg, boss of Marshal Tyres, sends his smart colt, Bond City (3.45), into battle for the sought-after five-furlong two-year-old contest. Bond City will not be amongst the front rank of the market leaders, but the way he stormed home from an unpromising position to finish runner-up behind Sundance at Ripon says to me he's well worth an each-way punt.

Roger Charlton's horses are nicely in the groove at present, boding promisingly for the prospects of Famous Grouse (2.05) in the ladbrokes.com. Handicap.

Famous Grouse was a 33-1 long shot when returning from a four-month lay-off at Epsom last weekend, he did not however perform like a no-hoper, quite the converse in fact as the four-year-old harried the leading trio all the way to the line, eventually giving best by less than one-length.

Charlton's raider is not only sure to strip a good deal fitter for that spin, but will also have the huge advantage of being a fresh horse compared to the majority of his rivals, many of whom have been on the go all year.

Musselburgh's meeting opens up with one of their most valuable races on the calendar, the £25,000 totesport.com Handicap.

David Loder's runners are few and far between at the Scottish track, therefore United Nations warrants respect, however the vote just goes to Flipando (1.50), twice beaten in white-hot handicaps at Newmarket recently.

David Barron's consistent three-year-old is not the type to throw in the towel when maximum effort is required, whereas one or two of his opponents have been found wanting in the courage department over the past few months.

Seconditis is a frustrating affliction for thoroughbreds, just ask the unlucky owners of Most Definitely (4.30), who has finished second on no less than seven times in his last nine visits to the racecourse.

Tim Easterby's gelding is by no means a dodge-pot - it has just been a case of constantly coming up against one too good. Patience is a great virtue and Most Definitely might finally have unearthed an opportunity to get his head in front because the one-mile-six-furlong Watch Live Racing UK Handicap really does look a weak affair.

Not many flat horses win at the grand old age of 11, nevertheless there are always exceptions to the rule and Henry Island (3.35) fits the bill to perfection in Chester's University of Liverpool Stakes.

Amanda Bowlby's charismatic veteran has been called all the names under the sun in the past on account of his intermittent habit of chucking in a good old-fashioned stinker. Thankfully that was indisputably not true at Warwick 12 days ago when galloped on resolutely to chase home the much-improved Peter Hiatt-trained stayer, Moonshine Beach.

Chester's ludicrously tight turns, which have caused critics compare the course to a greyhound track, is just the type of venue to keep Henry Island interested, rather than his annoying habit of losing concentration on a more conventional type of venue.

Early birds might like to have a flutter at Carlisle where the action gets underway with the Cantor Fitzgerald Memorial Stakes at ten past eleven.

Although Mark Johnston's team appear to be suffering an uncharacteristic lull at the moment, Secret Pact ought to be good enough to land the spoils having made the frame on three of his four outings to date.

* Connections of Attraction are hoping that the rain stays away from Leopardstown ahead of her crack at the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes this afternoon.

Mark Johnston's star filly flopped on soft ground in the Prix Jacques Le Marois last month, having landed both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas earlier in the season.

Speaking from Doncaster racecourse as rain started to fall, the trainer's wife Deirdre said: ''I hope they are not getting this over in Ireland, but there are showers forecast.

''Attraction went over last night. She arrived there safely and is in very good form. Mark is in America and I will be going over there tomorrow morning.''

The three-year-old was unbeaten in the first eight starts of her career, with the amazing run coming to an end when she finished runner-up to Soviet Song in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting.

* Leading betting exchange Betfair are to sponsor all 26 races in the UK and Ireland on Monday. Following on from Betfair's St Leger sponsorship, the company will sponsor all the races at Bath, Musselburgh, Redcar and Roscommon and will be offering £50 to each lad or lass who leads in a winner.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.