WETHERBY'S reputation for attracting rising young jump stars has once again been reinforced with the appearance of Ballinclay King, Behrajan and Simply Gifted at the course today.

Ferdy Murphy's Ballinclay King and Tim Easterby's Simply Gifted (2.45) are first on stage, clashing in the Country And Metropolitan Novices Chase.

Both are rated as potential Cheltenham Festival material by their respective trainers, but it is the latter who may have the edge this afternoon, having had the benefit of a prep race at Market Rasen.

Simply Gifted jumped superbly on that occasion before flagging in the home straight, causing him to slip badly on landing at the final fence. He'll strip far fitter for the outing, a necessary advantage needed to overcome the smart Ballinclay King, said by his handler to have: "Schooled fantastically in preparation for his debut over fences."

In the later Tetley's Bitter Novices' Chase, Behrajan (3.55) switches to the bigger obstacles after a highly successful spell over hurdles.

Behrajan won three of his five races over timber last term, including the valuable Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

Richard Johnson's mount looks like he has the class to go right to the top over fences and seemingly only has Micky Hammond's Grimaldi Lad to beat.

Although just five runners face the starter for the closing two-and-a-half-mile Handicap Hurdle, it's still not easy to predict the outcome since a plausible case can be made for the entire quintet.

Omni Cosmo Touch is bidding for a hat-trick, having won at Taunton and Worcester, but Oliver Sherwood's raider is taking a considerable step up in grade and so I just give the nod to Boogy Woogy (5.00), all the better for a spin on the level at Redcar recently.

Henry Cecil's stable has emerged in spectacular style from the doldrums, firing in a succession of countrywide winners.

His two-year-old team is particularly powerful and it will come as no surprise if Newmarket-bound Welsh Border (2.30) follows up his cosy Nottingham victory in the Lawdirect Conditions Stakes.

The two-mile Showcase Handicap is an open affair with several in-form stayers attempting to clinch the £21,000 race.

Of the contestants capable of further progression, Helen's Day (3.40), who has been operating over much shorter distances, clearly has the scope to produce plenty of improvement now that she has been moved up significantly in trip.

Leave the last at Towcester to Desert Melody (4.50), a hurdler on the up-and-up judged by his facile course and distance win three weeks ago.

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