CASH in on Clarendon (3.00), that's the word from the west country concerning the Philip Hobbs-trained seven-year-old, a leading contender for the £50,000 Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.

"He picked up an injury after winning in July, but his absence won't be a problem since we think he is still well handicapped," reported Hobbs from his base at Bilbrook in Somerset.

Echoing those sentiments, it could prove highly significant that Clarendon defied a similarly long break from action when winning the race referred to by Hobbs, which was at Stratford in mid-summer.

The gelding, previously quite a useful middle-distance performer when in the hands of Vic Soane on the Flat, had also won his other two starts over hurdles last season, at Worcester and Newton Abbot.

Today's massive step up in grade to a Class B contest clearly has to be taken into account prior to lumping on Clarendon. However, it is worth remembering that Hobbs has some decent tackle to work Clarendon with on his home gallops, so it wouldn't be hard for Philip to work out just how good he is.

With stable jockey Mick FitzGerald sidelined after a crashing fall at Taunton on Thursday, Norman Williamson takes on Nicky Henderson's runners.

FitzGerald must be gutted because he misses the plum ride aboard Fondmort (2.25), so impressive when slamming a classy field in the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Although Fondmort now has to step back five furlongs in distance, he has won three times in the past over two miles at Kempton and he's not short on finishing speed.

Neither will "Fitz" be a happy bunny having to look on as Williamson does the steering on His Song (1.50) in the preceding Sunbury Antiques Market Handicap Hurdle.

His Song, once a very smart hurdler when trained by Mouse Morris in Ireland, has been brought over to UK to try to revive his flagging fortunes. And Henderson does appear to have begun to sweeten up the ten-year-old on the evidence of his latest second placing to Sure Future.

At Catterick, Ilton (12.35) should not be missed in the opening Bedale Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Calvin McCormack's partner wasn't totally disgraced when third in a novices' hurdle at Cheltenham last time out. That was an extremely competitive race and the four-year-old went off at odds off 50-1.

I can't quite get my head round just why trainer Mick Sowersby has opted to change tack completely and run Ilton in such lowly company, but one must never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Supreme Fortune, rated one of the unluckiest losers of the season so far, is fancied to make amends in the Brompton-on-Swale Handicap Chase.

The selection had broken clear of his field at the course 45 days ago and seemingly only had to jump the last two fences to secure victory. But is was not to be as disaster struck at the second last with Supreme Breeze failing to get high enough, catapulting Davy Russell into orbit.

Russell is on duty at Haydock riding Ferdy Murphy's stable-star Truckers Tavern, although backers need have no qualms over his substitute, Ken Whelan.

Howard Johnston has made no secret that Haydock-bound Lord Transcend (1.10) is the apple of his eye. Johnson thinks the strapping grey could be the best horse he's ever trained, an opinion about to be put to its first serious test when Lord Transcend lines up in the Premier Stayers' Hurdle against the likes of Deano's Beeno and Stromness.

It takes a quite a leap of faith to believe Johnston's raider can test the mettle of that highly-rated duo, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Lord Transcend could yet turn the form book on its head.

There's plenty of interest from our region at the two all-weather Flat meetings, including Andy Turnell's Susan's Dowry, heading to Lingfield, plus David Barron's Spitfire Bob (8.00) at Wolverhampton.

Hold-up mare Susan's Dowry is ideally suited by the way the races are run at Lingfield, while Spitfire Bob, unhappy on the Polytrack surface, has his favoured Fibresand in the Midlands.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.