Brian Ellison hoping for hat-trick at Wetherby races

Norton-based Ellison is fancied to score with The Grey Taylor, Seamour and Jac The Legend.

The Grey Taylor is bidding for a Wetherby hat-trick. Previously trained by Steve Gollings, the six-year-old has gained back-to-back course wins, looking a useful performer on both occasions.

The William Hill - In The App Store Novices' Hurdle sees The Grey Taylor burdened with a double penalty, but Ellison has booked smart claimer Kieron Edgar to take the mount and reduce the gelding's welter burden.

In opposition is Ballybolly, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, a useful bumper horse, who won well over hurdles at Aintree on his latest start. He will be a tough nut to crack, but The Grey Taylor is an exciting talent and is selected to oblige again.

Seamour represents Ellison in the William Hill - Bet On The Move Introductory Juvenile Hurdle.

Winner of one of his two races on the Flat, Seamour created a good impression on his jumping bow at Market Rasen last month when powering home from the last flight to win in good style. That was his first-ever race on turf - his two Flat races had been on Kempton's Polytrack surface - and he is well-regarded in the Ellison camp as a horse capable of improving markedly with experience. He has a penalty to carry here, but should be hard to beat.

Jac The Legend lines up in the William Hill World Darts Championship Tonight Handicap Hurdle.

He shaped well to finish fourth on his re-appearance at Huntingdon. He should be sharper this time and can contribute to what promises to be a productive afternoon for Ellison, who was among the winners at Sedgefield yesterday.

The £20,000 William Hill Castleford Chase is the feature race on the Wetherby card and old-timer French Opera is fancied to defy top weight.

The 11-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, has been competing at a very high level. He was far from disgraced behind Wishful Thinking in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time, while his previous outing, last season, was in Grade 1 company. This race represents a drop in class and, despite his advancing years, French Opera is selected to take advantage.

At Kempton, Hinterland is napped to return to winning ways in the Grade 2 williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, Hinterland ran a blinder to finish third to Dodging Bullets in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on his latest start. He may not need to improve much on that display to lift this prestigious prize.

God's Own pulled-up last time out in the Tingle Creek, but it would be unwise to dismiss him lightly from the Grade 2 williamhill.com Novices' Chase.

Prior to Sandown, he had won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and, back in May, he had scored at Grade 1 level at Punchestown.

Tom George's talented gelding is now back into novice company and, although he faces some tough rivals here, he could well bounce back to winning form. Paddy Brennan takes the mount, as usual.

Chatez is a fascinating runner in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

Only a three-year-old and lacking the age and experience of his rivals, Alan King's charge probably faces a stiff task. But it is worth remembering that he is a mid-90s horse on the Flat and is also the winner of both his hurdle outings, at Bangor and Warwick. He looks exciting and is one to respect greatly on his handicap bow.

Also worthy of attention at the main meeting of the day are Paul Nicholls' French recruit San Benedeto (12.40) and Silver Commander (2.15), who hails from the in-form Philip Hobbs yard.

Selections

Wetherby today

12.00 Be A Dreamer, 12.30 A Doll In Milan, 1.00 The Grey Taylor, 1.30 Saints And Sinners, 2.05 Seamour, 2.40 French Opera, 3.15 Jac The Legend.

Kempton today

12.40 San Benedeto, 1.10 God's Own, 1.40 Hinterland (NAP), 2.15 Silver Commander, 2.50 Mayfair Music, 3.25 Chatez.

Today's other meetings

Chepstow, Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow's meetings

Catterick, Leicester and Lingfield.