JOCKEY Charles Bishop teamed up with Eve Johnson Houghton to win Redcar’s richest race with Chipotle three years ago – and the combination look poised to star again this Saturday.

Billboard Star comes up from Oxfordshire for the listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy with clearly the best form credentials.

The son of Advertise was a creditable third behind Richard Fahey’s highly regarded Powerful Glory in the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes on heavy ground at Newbury last time.

He was also second, beaten less than two lengths, to Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket in another Group 2 race at Newmarket in July, and that gives him a big chance in listed class.

That said, he’ll face tough competition from the north, with Uncle Don, from the Fahey stable, among the leading contenders after a good second in listed company at Ayr last time.

Paul Mulrennan is on record as describing Northern Ticker – owned by The Sekura Group – as “one of the best I’ve ridden for a long time” and Michael Dods’ charge should not be underestimated for the big prize.

Dods also has a strong contender for the second listed race on the card, the Racing TV EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes, in Northern Express, who also runs in the green and red colours of The Sekura Group.

Northern Express is an admirably consistent handicapper, whose most recent win came in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes at Ascot, in July, and he’s earned this tilt at a listed race.

The gelding will again be ridden by Paul Mulrennan, but it will have to be a towering performance to beat the Ralph Beckett-trained Grey’s Monument, winner of the bet365 Handicap at Ascot last time.

Rossa Ryan rides Grey’s Monument and he also teams up with Hampshire trainer Beckett in the opening Racing TV EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (Division 1) on Seraph Gabriel, an impressive winner of a Lingfield maiden last time.

Ryan will also fancy his chances in Division 2 when he partners Binhareer for William Haggas. The son of Dark Angel was a promising fifth behind Starzintheireyes at Leicester on his debut and should come on for that experience. Ryan rode Starzintheireyes that day so will know the strength of the form.

Redcar welcomes a new sponsor for the Empentis – Training Equine Staff Handicap and the company is rewarded with a competitive 15-runner race.

Dandy’s Angel, trained in North Yorkshire by John Wainwright, is aiming for a hat-trick after quick-fire wins at Haydock and Hamilton, and is clearly in good form. Both victories were in the hands of talented apprentice Tom Kiely-Marshall and he retains the ride.

Kiely-Marshall has another live chance in the Woodsmith Construction Group Straight-Mile Series Final aboard Zapphire for his retained stable of Julie Camacho.

Zapphire gave Sir Michael Stoute’s hot favourite, Red Pixie, a fright when going down by just a nose at Redcar at the end of July, before the daughter of Zoffany scored at Beverley. She finished down the field when taken across the Irish Sea to Leopardstown last month but is worth another chance at a track where she’s run well before.

Michael Dods’ Billy No Mates has dropped to a dangerous mark for the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap. He’ll love the soft ground and in-form apprentice Rhys Elliott takes off a useful seven pounds.

A cracking eight-race cards concludes with the Watch Race Replays On racingtv.com Handicap, in which Connor Beasley teams up with David O’Meara to ride course and distance winner Scoops Ahoy.

The Bungle Inthejungle gelding won at Redcar on soft going in May and looks to be in good heart after a solid second at Hamilton last time.

  • Picture shows Charles Bishop winning the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy for Eve Johnson Houghton with Chipotle in 2021