Jim Crowley, who is locked in battle with Alan Dempsey in the race for the conditional jockeys' championship, has drawn a blank in the last two days while his arch-rival succeeded in riding doubles at Musselburgh on Tuesday and at Catterick yesterday.

But Crowley, who rode a treble on successive days during the festive season, can get back on top at Towcester tomorrow.

The 21-year-old jockey partners Galen in the Tote Showcase Handicap Chase and this reformed horse is fancied to notch his fourth success in six starts since joining Crowley's boss Sue Smith.

Previously with Mary Reveley, Galen was never regarded as the most trustworthy character but has proved a model of consistency this term.

Already a course and distance winner this season, his latest victory was gained at Uttoxeter last month. The third horse home that day was Sad Mad Bad, who has since franked the form by winning a competitive handicap on the same course.

With the ground at Towcester for tomorrow's program e described as heavy, proven mud-lover Galen will be in his element as he bids to put Crowley back among the winners.

Royal Toast makes plenty of appeal in the Welcome To The New Century Handicap Chase.

Nicky Henderson's gelding made an encouraging start to the season last month when finishing third to Beatson - the winner of this race 12 months ago - over tomorrow's course and distance.

Sure to have benefited from that outing, Royal Toast can take the major honours tomorrow on a track where he has scored in the past. Mick Fitzgerald, who notched his first Catterick success yesterday on Cambrian Dawn, has the mount.

Nadisha will not be short of supporters in the New Year Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Alan King's filly went down by only a neck to Prokofiev at Warwick last month on her hurdling debut. A winner on the Flat last summer, she can now open her jumping account.

At Ludlow, Bellator has extra-strong claims in the New Year Novices' Chase.

This former high-class hurdler made a hugely impressive start to his fencing career when jumping superbly and scoring easily at Newton Abbot on his debut at the end of November. He can follow-up here under Norman Williamson.

Arctic Chanter, runner-up in all his three starts this season, is napped to go one better in the January Novices' Handicap Chase.

Trained by Phillip Hobbs, who can do no wrong at present, Arctic Chanter finished a three lengths second to Spring Saint at Exeter last time, the pair finishing a distance clear of the third horse.

Hopalong can make his presence felt in the Weatherbys 'Stars of Tomorrow' National Hunt Flat Race. The Nicky Henderson-trained four-year-old turned in a solid effort on his debut, at Huntingdon, to finish third to Mallory. He will surely have benefited from that experience.

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