Barry Hills, leading trainer at Chester over the last decade, can strengthen his love affair with the famous Roodee course by landing tomorrow's feature race on day two of the three-day meeting.

Shannon Springs is his representative in the MNBA Europe Bank Chester Vase, and this smart three-year-old is fancied to win this Group 3 contest worth £65,000.

Shannon Springs showed a lot of ability last season and, despite failing to win, finished placed in Listed company. He deservedly got off the mark on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last month when justifying favouritism with a one and threequarter lengths win over Bay Story.

That race was Shannon Springs' first try over a mile-and-a-half and it was ideal for him. Over the same distance tomorrow he promises to run a big race, once again with Michael Hills, the trainer's son, in the saddle.

Counsel's Opinion should not be overlooked in the opening Jardine Lloyd Thompson Huxley Stakes over an extended ten-and-a-half furlongs.

A winner at Doncaster's Lincoln meeting, George Baker's mount has since run a mighty race in a competitive handicap at Epsom.

He has a little bit to find at the weights with one or two of his rivals tomorrow in a non-handicap event, but he is on such good terms with himself at present that he deserves respect all the same.

There's National Hunt racing tomorrow evening at Wetherby, where the PeopleCo Yorkshire Point-To-Point Association Hunters' Chase offers Nap selection Mister Friday the chance to add to his sequence of winning efforts.

The eight-year-old has thrived in the care of Clive Mulhall and gained his latest success at Cheltenham last week when beating Mullensgrove by almost two lengths.

Tomorrow's tips

Chester

TV races: 1.30 Counsel's Opinion, 2.00 Notability, 2.30 Shannon Springs, 3.00 Bold Marc.

Wetherby

5.50 Mr Mischief, 6.25 Encore Cadoudal, 6.55 Notaproblem, 7.25 Feel The Pride, 7.55 Mister Friday (Nap), 8.30 Lawgiver.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Chepstow and Folkestone. Newton Abbot's meeting tomorrow was called off yesterday (waterlogged).

Updated: 10:48 Wednesday, May 04, 2005