Things could hardly have worked out any better this year for Seb Sanders, who is lying in third place in the jockeys' championship, writes RICHARD YOUNG.

He can make further ground on Richard Hughes, who is second, by riding a double on day two of Newmarket's Cesarewitch meeting today.

Sanders takes the ride on Bryan McMahon's Needwood Blade, who has been at the very top of his game of late, in the Bentick Stakes at 3.25.

Given that the four-year-old is ideally suited by six furlongs and give in the ground, he's been running tremendously well over five on fast of late, including when a staying-on fourth to Lady Dominatrix at Newbury last month.

Today's conditions will be much more to his liking and he's taken to beat Bahamian Pirate and Orientor, who drop in grade but are closely matched on their form at Longchamp recently.

Sanders can initiate his double with the consistent Champion Lodge in the very competitive-looking Roy Prince Lifetime In Racing Showcase Handicap over a mile at 1.45.

This game and genuine sort is a much better horse with plenty of cut in the ground, and although far from disgraced at Newbury on a quick surface last time, he'll find these conditions to his liking.

Although he has plenty of form over a mile and a quarter, he's equally effective over this shorter trip and Sanders is likely to make full use of his proven stamina.

He's weighted up to the hilt but the same can be said for many others and he's taken to beat Barry Hills' Faithful Warrior, who ran his best race of the season at Chester last time.

Hills can be on the mark with Pablo in the Countrywide Steel And Tubes Handicap over seven furlongs.

This progressive three-year-old looked one to follow after his Sandown win in the summer, but he proved a bitter disappointment on fast ground at Goodwood last time.

That that run can be put down to the fast ground and today's conditions are likely to show him in a totally different light.

Quantity presides over quality at Redcar, but it's still an interesting card and Gerard Butler's Ros The Boss takes the eye in the Strettingham Handicap over seven furlongs.

A facile winner at Brighton early last month, the filly shaped better than the bare result would suggest after being held up in a slowly run race at Sandown last time.

However, with 29 runners in the line-up there's likely to be no hanging about and she looks well worth an interest unless the ground deteriorates appreciably.

Escalade may have his quirks but he's back to form with a vengeance and should go well in the Scarborough Handicap at 4.50.

Mark Brisbourne's five-year-old was just touched off at Ayr this week, having travelled like the winner for much of the way and he can return to winning ways on this quicker surface.

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