TEENAGE star-of-the-saddle Sam Hitchcott has a further opportunity to shine aboard Golden Chance (3.30) in the Hambleton Cup at Thirsk.

Hitchcott has been enjoying the majority of his success for guv'nor Mick Easterby, who has never been afraid to put up young and relatively inexperienced jockeys on his horses.

Sometimes the policy can backfire, however Hitchcott has not been letting the side down, booting home a string of winners by utilising his 7lbs allowance to maximum effect.

Attempting to add to his ever-growing tally, Golden Chance, already a scorer over today's trip of a mile-and-a-half at Ripon this term, is the perfect "nippy" type of animal for Sam to steer round Thirsk's tight turns.

In the preceding Black Cat Fireworks Fillies' Stakes, history could be in the making if Madame Jones (2.55) prevails.

The tough-as-teak six-year-old mare bids to become the first horse this century to win ten handicaps in a year.

Trainer David Evans originally had Madame Jones pencilled in at Haydock yesterday, but decided to give her an extra 24hrs rest in order to recover from having run twice earlier this week at Hamilton and Yarmouth.

Talented southern raiders, High Diva (2.20) and Light Scent (4.00), are both fancied to collect in their respective two-year-old contests, albeit at very short starting prices.

Kieren Fallon is pulling out all of the stops in his bid to fend off Kevin Darley in the race for the champion jockey's title.

If all goes to plan at Kempton, I anticipate Fallon will come away with at least a double via Right Approach (2.10) and Delius (3.10).

Right Approach, top-weight in the opening Chertsey Lock Conditions Stakes, did nothing wrong when overhauling a useful David Loder newcomer, Mamool, at Newmarket in August.

Neither did Delius let his supporters down when winning with any amount in hand at Windsor last time out.

He admittedly steps up in grade for the Milcars-sponsored September Stakes over 12 furlongs, but trainer Sir Michael Stoute has his older horses in such terrific shape, a positive outcome would come as no surprise.

Haydock stage the Showcase Handicap where in-form Sudden Flight and Caqui D'Or are likely to be the subject of significant market support.

Better value could be Middlethorpe (2.30), who won doing handsprings at Pontefract and might just be a step or two ahead of the Official Handicapper.

Over the sticks at Stratford, Philip Hobbs is not messing about with his classy novice hurdler, Lanzlo (5.00), throwing him straight back in at the deep end against some far more experienced rivals in the Barbara Taylor Memorial Hurdle.

Hobbs has a hatful of young hopefuls to choose from at this time of year and wouldn't be risking such a precocious individual unless he was 100 per cent sure of his tactics.

For die-hards Saturday night sand action returns under the floodlights at Wolverhampton.

There's an excellent Novice Auction Stakes featuring a couple of juveniles I'm keen on: Offa's Dyke and Beaufort Lady (8.00).

Offa's Dyke landed a 4-1 nap selection at the course a couple of starts ago, while Beaufort Lady caught the eye with a pleasing second at Redcar.

Preference is marginally for the latter on account for her substantial weight concession, in conjunction with the booking of the brilliant Keith Dalgleish, who takes a valuable 3lbs off the fillies' back.