Norton trainer Tim Etherington can make his long journey to Sandown well worthwhile tomorrow by winning a £10,000 prize with Kayo.

A useful servant and consistent money-spinner for Etherington's Wold House yard, Kayo bids for the Heathorns Nordoff-Robbins Rated Stakes Showcase Handicap and boasts an outstanding chance.

On his seasonal reappearance at Ripon earlier this month Kayo was beaten less than three lengths into fourth place by Levelled in a 22-runner handicap.

The merit of that performance was even greater in light of the fact that the four-year-old was poorly drawn and came out on top on the unfavoured far side of the course.

Stepping back up to his optimum distance of seven furlongs tomorrow Kayo, successful four times last term, is napped to make his first strike of the campaign.

Ballet Master will bid to put his best foot forward in the Hargreaves Hale & Co Conditions Stakes and earn himself a place in the forthcoming Sagitta 2,000 Guineas.

Henry Cecil's colt, a Yarmouth winner last autumn on his only juvenile outing, is held in very high regard.

The 2,000 Guineas picture looks pretty hazy at present with any amount of horses failing to cover themselves in glory in last week's trials at Newmarket and Newbury.

It is hoped that Ballet Master can waltz away with this race and confirm himself a leading Classic contender.

Haami, an unlucky loser at Newmarket last week, gets my vote in the £50,000 Sandown Mile.

John Dunlop's classy colt was beaten a length and a quarter into second by Shiva in the Earl of Sefton Stakes, but suffered trouble in running and was also inconvenienced by the dawdling early gallop. He deserves another chance in this Group 2 contest.

The final televised race of the meeting is the Heathorns Bookmakers Handicap, in which Tough Act has the ability to defy top weight of 10st.

Amanda Perrett's charge was twice a winner last season, including at Goodwood on his reappearance, so the lack of a preparatory run here should not count too much against him.

Although unproven over this distance of two miles, Tough Act gives the distinct impression that he will see out the trip. If so, he will be hard to beat.

At Large, who was restricted to only two outings last season, performed well both times. A horse who seems to go well fresh, he should not be discounted from calculations in the Silver Clef Handicap over five furlongs.

Racing mourns famous figures

Horse racing was today mourning the deaths yesterday of two of the sports great men, Capt Tim Forster and Paul Kelleway.

Forster, 65, died of multiple sclerosis and cancer, and Kelleway, 58, died of cancer.

Forster, whose stables were at Ludlow, Shropshire, trained three Grand National winners, second only to Fred Rimell's four victories. Forster's National triumphs were with Well To Do in 1972, Ben Nevis in 1980 and Last Suspect in 1985.

Kelleway, who trained at Newmarket, scaled the heights as a jumps jockey and Flat race trainer.

He rode What A Myth to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1969, Crisp to Champion Chase glory in 1971, and Bula to victory in Champion Hurdle victories in 1971 and 1972.

Kelleway trained for 20 years until retiring in 1997. He trained 304 winners.

Tomorrow's tips

SANDOWN

2.05..........................Ballet Master

2.35..............................Kayo (Nap)

3.05......................................Haami

3.40................................Tough Act

4.10..........................Endorsement

4.40.....................................Kalindi

5.15...................................At Large

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.