Easterby hero to be the star at Wetherby

Victorious in this event 12 month ago, Tim Easterby's gelding has won seven races on the 'A1' track and could almost negotiate the course blindfolded.

The popular nine-year-old has plenty on his plate under top-weight tomorrow, but that is not unusual for this seasoned campaigner, who has run well in all his three starts this season.

Although finishing last of four here on his latest outing, when sent off the 11/10 favourite, Cumbrian Challenge lost no marks in defeat, as he was beaten less than four lengths by the winter Tom Brodie to whom he was conceding no less than 19lb.

Cumbrian Challenge can prove the star of 'Emmerdale' tomorrow for the second year running.

Eirespray gets my vote in the ATS Handicap Chase following his excellent effort to chase home Seven Towers at Ayr last month.

Sue Smith's highly-regarded gelding was 6lb out of the handicap that day, but is able to race off his correct mark here. He should run a big race.

Colton trainer Lynn Sidall and her jockey-son Tom teamed up to score with Dan De Man at Newcastle on Tuesday and the local duo can strike again with Samanid in the Wharfe Handicap Hurdle.

Narrowly beaten by Lord Richfield at Uttoxeter last week, Samanid is napped to go one better here.

Chanell 4 Racing were orginally scheduled to show the 1.40 and 3.25 races from Wetherby but will not now be doing so and have switched to Towcester for two races in addition to four from Sandown.

The pick of tomorrow's televised action comes from Chepstow and Sandown, where the £57,000 Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy Chase is the richest race of the day.

A cracking contest is in store and nothing makes more appeal than Edredon Bleu, who is going from strength to strength.

Henrietta Knight's charge was most impressive when winning the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon a fortnight ago, and is, significantly, a previous winner over this course and distance.

The £50,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle offers Blowing Wind the chance to bolster his prospects of developing into a Champion Hurdle hope this season.

Martin Pipe's French-bred gelding made giant strides last term, winning his final three starts, including the Imperial Cup and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A class act who goes well fresh, he is expected to make a bold bid tomorrow.

A thrilling clash is on the cards in the £30,000 Coral Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow.

Escartefigue and See More Business, who finished second and fourth respectively behind Suny Bay at Haydock recently, have a re-match in a race which has cut up to only three runners.

This stiff course will particularly suit Escartefigue and I would not be surprised to see him win this time, though his chances would be further enhanced by a further softening of the ground.

Also worth noting in Chepstow's two other televised races are the hat-trick seeking Falmouth Bay (1.15) and the smart Forest Ivory (1.45) a stable-mate of Escartefigue.

TOMORROW'S TIPS

WETHERBY

12.40........................Justuce Alone

1.10...................................Gatflax

1.40...............................Eirespray

2.15.....................Russian Aspect

2.50............Cumbrian Challenge

3.20......................Samanid (Nap)

SANDOWN

12.50.....................................Yahmi

1.25.........................Melody Maid

1.55........................Dawn Leader

2.30.......................Edredon Bleu

3.05.......................Blowing Wind

3.40.....................................Monis

CHEPSTOW

1.15.......................Falmouth Bay

1.45..........................Forest Ivory

2.15.........................Escartefigue

2.45.........................Repeat Offer

3.20...................................Laredo

3.50.................Young Devereaux

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