JOHN GOSDEN’S Troopingthecolour makes the trip to Catterick for the Hambleton Maiden Stakes.

Second on all three outings to date, a win will be wanted before he is packed off for the winter and strictly on the formbook it almost looks a formality.

No Wonga ran well enough when a keeping-on second here last time over a mile and a half and can be fancied to go even closer stepped up in trip for the National Hunt Season Starts On 2nd December Handicap with conditions likely to suit.

Planet Of Sound can confirm the promise of his novice season with a victory in the William Hill (Haldon) Gold Cup at Exeter.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has always thought a fair bit of this strapping seven-year-old by Kayf Tara and despite showing plenty of decent form over timber, he was always going to come into his own over fences.

His initial foray over the larger obstacles was a letdown as he could only finish fourth behind the subsequently disappointing Free World.

However, he won his next two starts, beating I’m So Lucky and French Opera, with plenty up his sleeve and he went into the Arkle well touted as a dark horse.

He did not disappoint, either, finishing third in the two-mile novice championship behind Forpadytheplasterer and Kalahari King.

Stepped up to two and a half miles at Aintree he ran another solid race to fill the same position behind Tartak but the race maybe came just a touch too soon.

With another summer on his back, a massive run is expected with a workable handicap mark and ground to suit.

Bab Al Salam may have lost his unbeaten record last time out at Newmarket but hopefully that means he might be a bit of value in the Christmas Party Nights At Kempton Park Handicap.

Godolphin’s three-year-old won his only start last season and rattled off three on the bounce this term too.

It is the form of his victory at Bath in September that makes him an interesting contender in this though as he beat Sir Michael Stoute’s Rosika, subsequently a winner at Goodwood and second in a Listed contest.

It was a messy three-runner affair last time which did not play to his strengths but with the form of the stable simply irresistible, his claims are hard to ignore.

A tardy start cost Fullandby any chance of victory at Doncaster just over a week ago but he absolutely flew home into fourth.

Tim Etherington’s sprinter might not win very often for a horse with his ability but his last run proves he is still in good heart.