GRAHAM LEE'S booking for Bellaney Jewel (1.20) at Catterick could be a significant pointer to the prospects of the John Quinn-trained mare.
The former Grand National-winning jockey, who is based at Ingleby Barwick, has a huge following of punters on his home patch and it'll be no surprise if his fan club get stuck into the Malton raider.
There's certainly ample evidence to support Bellaney Jewel's claims since she rounded off last season with two wins from three starts, not to mention facing some very modest rivals in the feature race on today's card, the three-mile-one-furlong Handicap Chase.
Backers hoping to side with a decent-priced scorer in the Selling Handicap Hurdle could do worse than take each-way odds about Karyon (12.50).
Kate Milligan's representative is no great shakes, nevertheless he shaped as if his turn was just around the corner when nabbing sixth spot at the course late last month.
Even though Ton-Chee (2.50) finished last of six on a fruitless visit to Newcastle recently, I still fancy him to take the money in the Zetland Handicap Chase.
Barry Murtagh's seven-year-old was beaten less than 15 lengths on that occasion, a reproduction of which should put him right in the picture for the two-mile-three-furlong contest.
Rider Tony Dobbin also has something to prove on the selection as he was the man who haplessly parted company with Ton-Chee when the pair were nicely clear of their field in a similar standard event almost 11 months ago to the day. If the calamity had occurred in the back straight it wouldn't have been so disastrous, but the fact Dobbin was fired from the saddle at the final fence in front of packed stands made it one of the more ignominious moments of his career.
The closing long-distance Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle presents Silver Seeker (3.20) with an ideal opportunity to show that stamina is his trump suit.
Trainer Martin Todhunter was guilty of running the grey at a trip well short of his optimum when the gelding was unsighted over two-miles-and-three-furlongs last time out. It was a tactic doomed to failure and Todhunter is not making the same mistake twice, upping his charge nearly a full mile in distance and thus bringing Silver Seeker's superior staying power back into play.
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