If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Butterwick trainer Richard Fahey, having seen his Night Flight beaten a head at Doncaster last month by the Kieren Fallon-ridden Night Shot, has made sure the champion jockey cannot scupper him again at Ripon tomorrow.

Fahey has booked Fallon to ride Night Flight in the Fountains Handicap.

In a wide-open race, Night Flight has excellent prospects of going one better in this six furlongs dash. He was only caught in the very last stride at Doncaster, having struck the front two furlongs out.

His finishing run will probably be delayed a fraction longer tomorrow, and there is no jockey more adept at precision-timed challenges than Fallon.

A bold show is anticipated by Night Flight, but don't expect this to be a cake-walk. Many of his rivals have strong claims.

John Reid, who broke his right leg in a fall at Kempton yesterday and sadly faces a long spell on the sidelines, had been booked to partner Admirals Secret in the Studley Royal Handicap.

The Chris Wall-trained gelding looks like being one of many winners Reid will miss during his enforced absence.

Admirals Secret is now a 10-year-old and is not the force he once was, but the veteran campaigner ran well for an inexperienced rider in an apprentices' race at Doncaster last month when seventh to Prince Nicholas. Admirals Secret earns the Nap vote.

The Galphay Classified Stakes looks a good opportunity for Joyeux Player to start the season on a winning note.

Trained by John Dunlop, whose horses are in dynamic form, Joyeux Player who showed some decent juvenile form last timer will have the services of Pat Eddery.

As for the Sawley Handicap, a 6lb penalty may not be enough to anchor Rum Pointer, the mount of Jimmy fortune.

Trained by Tim Easterby, Rum Pointer got off the mark in terrific style at Catterick last week. Clearly in good heart, he can oblige again.

Angels Venture, who showed plenty of promise when finishing fourth in her only juvenile start last term, can prove her ability by winning division two of the Levy Board Grantley Maiden Stakes.

Tony McCoy can hit the bullseye at Ascot on Warm Spell in the Brunswick Showcase Handicap Hurdle. Gary Moore's gelding has run two cracking races in defeat this season.

Pietro Bembo is fancied to capture the Brunswick Novices' Handicap Hurdle. John Akehurst's five-year-old gained a comfortable all-the-way win at Folkestone last month and does not look badly handicapped here.

Also worth noting at Ascot is Teaatral - winner of his last two races - who steps up in class for the £31,500 Grosvenor Casinos Long Distance Hurdle.

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