YORK'S 2002 season of Flat racing goes out in a blaze of glory with four massively competitive handicaps plus a cracking Listed race for punters to get teeth into.

Sadly the forecasters say the sun isn't going to shine, in fact heavy rain is a more than a passing threat. That's not good news for those us with an aversion to the wet and cold, but one man who will literally be jumping for joy is Abbajabba's trainer, Chris Fairhurst.

Abbajabba (3.40) is bidding to win the £30,000 Coral Eurobet Trophy for the second year in succession and provided the predicted precipitation arrives on schedule to ease the ground, he must be in with a terrific shout.

Fairhurst has deliberately kept his sprinter waiting in the wings for an autumn campaign, launched promisingly three weeks ago in the Ayr Gold Cup when Abbajabba grabbed third spot courtesy of a whirlwind finish. It was the six-year-old's first signs of form for a while, bang on cue for his attempt to keep today's mouth-watering spoils on Yorkshire soil.

If per chance the meteorological men and woman do get it wrong and it stays dry, Michael Dods' raider John O'Groats is an alternative tip for the trophy.

Regular readers will recall we sorted this one out for the Ayr Silver Cup and he did us proud at a tasty 14-1. It was a superb training performance by Dods, who I'm sure will also be looking forward to racing John O'Groats next year because, like a vintage wine, he really does look like the sort to improve with age.

With plenty of front-runners in the opening Coldstream Guards Handicap over a mile-and-six-furlongs, the race is sure to be run at an end-to-end gallop.

Whether those tactics will suit hold-up types like Browning and Mary Reveley's Loop The Loup is debatable, especially as horses racing up with the pace have generally held the call at York this term.

If that trend does continue, Knavesmire Omen (2.05) could be the one to be on. The fabulously tough three-year-old has already won six times this season, proving for the umpteenth time that you cannot go far wrong if siding with Mark Johnston's stayers.

In terms of prize money the John Smith's Sprint Championship gets top billing with £35,000 on offer.

The race features the quick return of Mick Mullineaux' Talbot Avenue (3.05), second to Paddywack yesterday and fancied to now go one better.

There's also some brilliant action at Ascot, where John Dunlop's Big Bad Bob (2.20) steps up to Listed company for the first time in the one-mile Tom McGee Stakes.

Big Bad Bob has shown no mercy to his rivals on any of his last three outings, each time routing them with ruthless efficiency. He has already proved himself to be an extremely smart colt and with the evergreen Pat Eddery in the saddle, the four-timer seems virtually assured.

The Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes more-often-than-not throws up a top-class youngster - 2001 heroine, Dominica, went to take the Kings' Stand Stakes at this year's Royal meeting.

It's far from certain that Fancy Lady (2.50) will scale those heights, although being such a big and rangy filly, she does have the advantage of possessing far more scope than some of her protagonists.

Bangor's tricky fences take some jumping at the best of times so best stick with previous course-and-distance winners like Hang'em Out to Dry (2.45).

Ben de Haan's chaser won first time out at the track last season, but subsequently failed to add to that tally. Clearly best when fresh, Hang'em Out to Dry is a must for the short-list in the Miles Macadam Handicap Chase over a trip just short of two-miles-and-two-furlongs.

Finally to Hexham, where numbers are pitifully low due to the predicted fast ground.

With so few runners on show it doesn't exactly set the pulse racing, however there should be money to be made by shovelling the cash on Westgate Run (3.15) and Kimdaloo (4.50), both of whom have outstanding prospects.

Trainer Richard Fahey cut his teeth as a trainer over jumps prior to switching his operation to the far more lucrative and less heart-breaking Flat arena. Fahey still keeps hold of the odd National Hunt performer like Westgate Run, potentially the proverbial "good thing" in the Mares Only Novices Hurdle.

Kimdaloo showed a good deal of guts to collect over fences at the course last week and a follow-up victory in the John Bryson Memorial Chase is the most likely outcome.

* Godolphin have chosen the Group One Premio Vittorio di Capua over a mile in Milan tomorrow as the belated re-appearance race for Slickly.

The grey, who is set to be partnered by Frankie Dettori, destroyed a weak field in the corresponding race last year. Although the French import's fitness must be taken on trust, he clearly cannot be ignored.

Mark Johnston's Italian-owned Mister Cosmi also runs.

Kevin Darley's mount has won in German Listed grade and has been running well in big Ascot handicaps. The mud-loving locally-trained Altieri may pose a greater threat if re-discovering the sort of form which enabled him to beat Domedriver in Group Three company at Deauville in July.

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