HENRIETTA KNIGHT'S embarrassment of riches within the chasing division is once again highlighted by the presence of the able youngster Kick For Touch (3.30) at Wincanton today.

Among the of aces in her pack are Best Mate and Edredon Bleu, but youthful stock is always required to replenish the ranks and the seven-year-old ex-point-to-pointer, Kick For Touch, represents an excellent example of a potential star simply waiting in the wings for the time when the older generation have cried enough.

Kick For Touch took a while to get the hang of things over fences last term.

Once he found his stride, successive victories at Huntingdon and Stratford earmarked the gelding as a horse with a promising future.

Knight probably didn't have the selection fully tuned up on his reappearance at Newton Abbot in November but he still ran a good race to chase home the Paul Nicholls-trained Fasgo.

Kick For Touch is bound to have improved significantly for the outing and with Jim Culloty doing the steering is fancied to pick up the most valuable prize of the day at the west-country course, the £8,000 Tote Bookmakers Showcase Handicap Chase.

Alan King is running riot with his hurdlers at present, Howle Hill (1.30) chipping in with a silky-smooth triumph at Wetherby before Christmas.

Although Howle Hill has since been beaten into second spot at Huntingdon, it looked a pretty hot affair and I would not be surprised if he bounced back to top form in division two of the Corscombe Novices' Hurdle.

Trainer Richard Rowe went up a notch or two in my estimation when, after a three-year absence from action, he produced Gladtoknowyou (3.00) to win on his chase debut at Kempton just under 12 months ago.

The reason behind Gladtoknowyou's long lay-off was a persistent problem with a long-standing leg injury. Seeing as Rowe's raider has only been seen out once since, it is probable that his fragile undercarriage remains a cause for concern.

Nevertheless, fortune favours the brave, and as we now know the horse goes particularly well when fresh, a small interest is advised in the two-mile-and-five-furlong wincantonracecourse.co.uk Handicap Chase

One of the great thieves of all time, Soba Jones (3.10), takes his place in the line-up for the betdirect.co.uk Handicap at Wolverhampton.

He often saves a bit for himself, but if he does decide to put his best foot forward, is undoubtedly on a winning mark for the six furlong dash.

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