WITH only five days to go before the end of the Flat turf season Catterick-bound King Harson (3.00) must make the most of feeling the green grass under his feet.

According to trainer James Bethell, King Harson is not a "good traveller", so the closer to home the better for the six-year-old who only has to pop some ten miles down the road from his Middleham base to the track.

Bethell's canny policy has certainly worked the oracle in the past since the selection already boasts two course and distance victories to his name, as well as a win at nearby Thirsk back in the spring.

The soft ground is also in King Harson's favour, which combined with his advantageous low draw in stall six and the services of Alan Munro, all adds up to a convincing case for having a substantial each-way wager on the gelding.

In the earlier six-furlong Nursery, High Curragh (2.00) bids to redress the balance having failed to justify his position as market leader in a similar event last time out.

With a brace of Group 1 winners in the bag courtesy of Amadeus Mozart and Palacegate Episode, Kevin Ryan's two-year-olds are clearly a high-octane bunch.

Although High Curragh isn't in their league, when the sun was on his back during mid-summer he did grab a slice of the action with impressive fast-time successes at Ayr and Thirsk in July.

He's subsequently twice disappointed on visits to York and Newmarket, however that was in far more exalted company and Ryan's juvenile is bound to appreciate this afternoon's big drop in class.

It still beats me how Hernando's Boy remains a maiden on the level, a situation which might easily be all change following the mile-and-six-furlong finale.

Napped by the column to do the business on a trip to the Knavesmire in October, Keith Reveley's raider acquitted himself well enough to snatch third spot at the rewarding odds of 20-1.

The handsome bay might just have needed the spin after a long lay-off and as far this quarter is goes it would churlish to desert him now, especially in view of his superb level of form over the sticks last winter.

The reappearance of three times Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, Best Mate, is the highlight of a cracking card at Exeter.

The extended two-and-one-furlong distance for the Haldon Gold Cup is surely way too short as far as Henrietta Knight's star is concerned these days and preference therefore rests with Ashley Brook (2.40).

Kevin Bishop's smart chaser rounded off his 2004/2005 campaign with a magical 16-length victory in the Grade 1 Maghul Novices' Chase at the Grand National meeting in April.

Ashley Brook possesses speed to burn and as long as jockey Paddy Brennan can keep his mount in some sort of check early doors, it could be curtains for the rest once he opens up the throttle over the closing six furlongs.

* African Sahara served up a 5-1 winning nap for Janus supporters at Wolverhampton yesterday.

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