GUTO (2.20) could prove very hard to peg back come the finale of Chester's Alexander Handicap this afternoon.

Trainer Kevin Ryan, who did the column a huge favour by landing last Saturday's 13-2 winning nap via My Paris, has his horses in excellent fettle, boding nicely for Guto's chances in the five-furlong dash.

Prospective punters worrying about the fact the four-year-old hasn't been seen in action for 260 days need not fret since he won first time out in 2006.

Clearly an individual worth supporting when fresh, Guto's low draw should enable jockey Neil Callan to tuck in behind the certain early leader, Mr Wolf, before forging away at the furlong pole.

Frances Norton's career has been on hold during the past few months while he allowed time for his broken leg to mend.

Norton has thankfully made a full recovery and he'll be hoping to put himself back in the headlines aboard Chjimes (3.20) for one of his best buddies, fellow Liverpool supporter Karl Burke.

Chjimes kicked off last season with a bang, scoring on his debut and then beaten by a whisker in a Listed event at the Curragh, prior to a decent third-placing in similar company at Ascot.

Admittedly it went pear-shaped after this, but as a result the handicapper has dropped him a good few pounds and this seems an ideal opportunity to make a small investment.

A big-race double potentially beckons for the master of Spigot Lodge if Dickie Le Davoir (4.00) runs up to expectations in the following Senior Wright Handicap.

Dickie Le Davoir defied his 22-1 outsiders' odds when second on his Ripon reappearance, a cracking effort seeing as the firm ground wasn't exactly to his advantage.

Connections would have been delighted to see the rain yesterday, which will assist Pat Cosgrave's mount no end.

Similar conditions at Ayr might well be music to the ears of all concerned with Danzatrice (8.20).

Chris Thornton's mare traveled to Musselburgh on Sunday and ran respectably to be third, which should have put her spot-on for this evening's Black Bottle Handicap.

Brave Rebellion (7.10) looks a certainty at Wetherby, so in search of better value a pound-or-two might not go amiss on the talented, if unpredictable, Flight Command (7.40).