Best Port can be the toast of Ripon tomorrow by winning the feature race on the programme.

Trained just outside York by John Parkes, the six-year-old bids for the £10,000 C B Hutchinson Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap and is napped to triumph in the hands of Francis Norton.

Best Port, an able stayer in his class, made an encouraging reappearance at Nottingham 11 days ago when beaten only a length into third by Sashay over tomorrow's distance of two miles.

He has more on his plate this time, but, with the benefit of a recent run and only a featherweight to carry, a bold showing is anticipated.

Mark Johnston's Akbar, a high-class horse, looks best in the NetBetSports Conditions Stakes. Kevin Darley takes the mount on this tough and consistent six-year-old.

The NetBetSports Telebet Novice Auction Fillies' Stakes is a good opportunity for Patavium Princess to double her score.

Trained by Tim Easterby, whose Tough Love won at Beverley yesterday, Patavium Princess won at Southwell on her debut. Robert Winston has the mount.

Tomorrow's principal action is at Sandown's mixed programme, where the biggest prize is on offer in the Attheraces Gold Cup Chase, formerly the Whitbread Gold Cup.

This £125,000 showpiece offers handsome compensation to two horses, Ad Hoc, who was brought down in the Martell Grand National when travelling ominously well, and Carbury Cross, who unseated his rider in last Saturday's Scottish National when also giving the impression of a potential winner.

My preference is for Ad Hoc, winner of this race last year under star Irish jockey Ruby Walsh, who takes the mount again tomorrow.

Walsh can also win the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Celebration Chase on Fadalko, who is marginally preferred to Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles in what promises to be a crackerjack of a two-miler.

The Attheraces Mile, a Group 2 Flat race, brings together some smart milers, including Swallow Flight.

Although he finished last of six on his comeback outing at Doncaster last month, that effort is easily ignored as Geoff Wragg's charge met traffic problems in the closing stages, with the result that his jockey accepted the situation.

I expect a much more prominent show from Swallow Flight tomorrow.

Also worth noting at Sandown are Sudden Shock (1.45), a recent Aintree winner, and The Whistling Teal (4.10), whose impressive burst of finishing speed is well known to regulars on Knavesmire.

Stamina will be at a premium in the big race at Sedgefield, the £20,000 Foster's Durham National, in which Shuildante can make the most of her light weight.

Malcolm Jefferson's mare is in cracking form and can complete a hat-trick of wins.

Tomorrow's tips:

Ripon

2.30 Noble Nick

3.05 Best Port (Nap)

3.35 Patavium Princess

4.05 One Dinar

4.35 Six Pack

5.05 Akbar

5.35 Shalamantika

Sandown

(televised races)

1.45 Sudden Shock

2.15 Fadalko

2.50 Swallow Flight

3.30 Ad Hoc

4.10 The Whistling Teal

SEDGEFIELD

(selected main race)

3.45 Shuildante

Updated: 12:40 Friday, April 26, 2002