Artillery, who produced an extraordinary performance to win on Knavesmire last week, turns out again at Chester tomorrow with excellent prospects of adding to his score.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt bids for the £30,000 Bet Direct Showcase Handicap - one of two races being televised from the course on Channel 4 - and makes plenty of appeal, despite having been raised 10lb since his York victory.

That success was gained in the Melrose Handicap and Artillery spent much of his time in the home straight searching for a clear passage.

Even a furlong from home, he had ground to make up on the leaders, but Kieren Fallon conjured an amazing late run from him to pinch the prize right on the line.

With Fallon set to go to Sandown tomorrow, Stoute has engaged the services of top Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh to partner Artillery, who is again expected to hit the bullseye.

Pieter Brueghel, who finished a close-up fourth in last week's Roses Stakes at York, can get back on top in the Bet Direct Conditions Stakes, while Al's Me Trainer, trained by Allan Dickman at Norton, has a fine chance of completing a hat-trick of wins in the Merseyside Handicap.

At Sandown's Variety Club charity meeting, the Fallon-Stoute partnership looks poised to win the Variety Club Atlanta Stakes with Coyote and also the maiden fillies' event with Playgirl, who is overdue a winning turn.

The feature event, the £30,000 Ford Solario Stakes, looks a great opportunity for Mr Sandancer to gain Group 3 honours.

Highly-rated by Lincolnshire trainer James Given, the two-year-old, a winner at Newcastle on his debut, subsequently ran a cracking race to finish fourth in the Champagne Stakes at Goodwood. Pat Eddery has been booked for the mount tomorrow.

Given has double prospects with Jessica's Dream in the Sunley Rated Handicap, the three-year-old having underlined her well-being when winning at York last week.

Ragdale Hall, who has been running really well in defeat lately, will have the services of Kevin Darley in the William Hill Handicap and can register a deserved and overdue success for trainer John Gosden.

Don Cantillon has chosen to run Stratton at Sandown, rather than send him to Ayr today, and the in-form gelding should not be overlooked in the EVC Graphic Design & Print Handicap as he bids for a hat-trick of wins.

Ripon brings down the curtain on its 2001 season tomorrow.

The £10,000 betabet City of Ripon Handicap is the richest race on the card, and Bond Millennium, a creditable runner-up on his last two starts, makes plenty of appeal as he bids to go one better.

Tim Easterby's Raphael came good at Thirsk on her latest outing and it would come as no surprise to see this consistent youngster follow-up in the Lishman Sidwell Campbell & Price Nursery.

Sure to relish this step to a mile, she is awarded the nap vote.

Serengeti Bride has been in cracking form recently, chalking-up a hat-trick of wins.

Ed Dunlop's filly goes for number four in the Bernadette McWilliams Memorial Handicap and will be a tough nut to crack under Gary Carter.

Tomorrow's tips:

RIPON

2-15 Kandymal

2-45 Baldour

3-15 Serengeti Bride

3-50 Bond Millennium

4-25 Murjana

4-55 Raphael (NAP)

Chester

2-25 Cereus

2-55 Artillery

3-30 Whale Beach

4-00 Pieter Brueghel

4-35 Kaipoi

5-05 Al's Me Trainer

Sandown

2-05 Miss Opulence

2-40 Coyote

3-10 Mr Sandancer

3-45 Ragdale Hall

4-20 Jessica's Dream

4-50 Stratton

5-25 Playgirl

Updated: 14:55 Friday, August 31, 2001