IT'S no coincidence that Kieren Fallon is nicknamed "The Enforcer", such is his supreme strength in the saddle.
Nor is it any surprise he gets along so well with York-bound Ice (3.10), a tricky ride at the best of times, upon whom Fallon has a 100 percent record with three wins out of three rides.
Despite a rather high head carriage, Ice is in fact a genuine enough gelding, provided the person on top has the stamina to keep pushing all the way to the line.
And when it comes to shovelling on the coal in the closing stages of a race, Kieren is universally recognised as "the business". The former champion jockey certainly wouldn't have needed a second invitation to partner Ice in the £25,000 Cadogan Silver Salver Handicap, an event Ice won 12 months ago, fending off a similarly strong field in game fashion.
Overall it's looks like a real red-letter day for Ice's trainer Mark Johnston, who unleashes one of best juveniles, Leo's Luckyman (2.35), in the preceding six furlong Leonard Sainer Maiden Stakes.
The son of Woodman has always been regarded as one of the front line two-year-olds at Kingsley House, although he appears to have a pretty hot opponent in Funfair Wane, runner-up to Class Leader at Newmarket on his sole start to date.
Early Morning Mist (4.40) completes the Middleham trainer's raiding party in the Daniel Prenn Yorkshire Rated Stakes.
She ran up against a brace of extremely tasty customers in the shape of Lailani and Foreign Affairs when third at Epsom, form which entitles her to a leading chance in the extended mile-and-a-quarter heat.
The feature event on the card, the £60,000 William Hill Trophy, is the sort of contest Bookmakers simply love to sponsor.
The leading layers will be positively slavering at the lips in expectation of raking in the cash, because in all frankness there's hardly one of the 23 runners not in with a shout.
The facts of the matter are that in all likelihood the poor old punter doesn't normally stand an earthly in this type of cavalry charge.
Hat-trick seeking Polar Kingdom is bound to start near the head of the market, however my each-way preference is for Nasmatt (4.10). At least we know trainer Mick Channon has expressed himself as "being satisfied" with the three-year-olds' build up to the race.
Channon and stable jockey, the canny Aussie Craig Williams, understand exactly what it takes to plunder the big prize since they collected last year with Cotton House. But just to prove the point about the bookies' holding all of the aces, I doubt whether many backers were on at his relatively unfancied starting price of 25-1.
There'll be plenty of interest in Sandown's Tote Bookmakers Handicap for Johnny Oscar (3.55), a half-brother to the very smart stayer, Arctic Owl.
Just like his more illustrious relative, Johnny Oscar improved the minute he was stepped up in distance, finishing a close second to Hambleton over track and trip last time out.
In the following Royal Bank of Scotland Handicap, Where The Heart Is (4.25), third and then second on his last two outings, has the perfect opportunity to go one better.
He's been gradually coming to the boil, and there was certainly no disgrace in chasing home Flambe at Newcastle earlier on in the month.
Hexham stage the days' only jump meeting, kicking off with a two-and-a-half-mile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Rarchnamara (2.15) is inching ever closer a first ever success, unquestionably appearing capable of overcoming a relatively modest bunch after putting in a career best effort to finish second to Pertemps Profile at Bangor in May.
Nicky Richards will be trying to forget an appalling winter campaign to concentrate on restoring his powerful stable back where it belongs - near the top of the northern tree.
Richards should not go away from the Cumbrian course empty-handed with Jessolle (2.45), Handsome Henry (3.50), and Shikanne Surely (4.50), all holding major chances in their respective races.
Tony Dobbin is scheduled to partner all three, with Jessolle seemingly in especially good order after enduring the agony of a short-head defeat at the hands of Omni Cosmo Touch at Worcester just last Saturday.
Finally to Nottingham where according to my ratings Acquittal (2.25) has the Mike Cattermole Selling Handicap at his mercy.
The near veteran nine-year-old has dropped back down to winning mark, which coupled with a couple of recent encouraging runs, suggest he can make a welcome return to the winners' enclosure.
* Godolphin's Emirates World Series winner Fantastic Light heads a top-class field for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, for which 11 entries remained at yesterday's confirmation stage.
Fantastic Light will carry plenty of confidence as he bids to emulate stable-companion Dubai Millenium, who ran away with the 10-furlong Group One contest 12 months ago.
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