NOTNOWCATO, who got the better of one of his stable-mates when winning the International at York last August, faces another at Sandown tomorrow when he makes his keenly-awaited reappearance.

Sir Michael Stoute has chosen the Betfred Sir Gordon Richards Stakes as a starting point for his talented five-year-old, but he also has Mountain High in the field, which promises to be an added complication for punters.

Notnowcato had a short head to spare over Maraahel, also trained by Stoute, when winning York's most prestigious race at last year's Ebor Festival, but there is a price to pay for that richly-endowed success tomorrow in the shape of a 7lb penalty.

Although Jamie Spencer has been booked for the mount on Notnowcato, marginal preference tomorrow is for Mountain High, a Newmarket winner last season, who finished second on all three of his subsequent outings, two of those defeats coming in Group 2 company.

Both the Stoute runners look set to enjoy a good season, and although it would be unwise to think tomorrow is simply a two-horse race, my vote goes to Mountain High, who goes well fresh, is a horse we may not have seen the best of yet, and who will have the services of Jimmy Fortune.

Tybalt will not be short of supporters in the Betfredcasino Esher Cup.

Only narrowly beaten by last week's impressive Craven Stakes winner Adagio in a maiden race at Newmarket last September, Tybalt went one better at Lingfield next time.

On his recent reappearance, Tybalt, trained by John Gosden, just failed to peg back the race-fit Zaham, who reopposes tomorrow.

Tybalt, who meets his rival on 2lb better terms, is fancied to come out best this time.

In the Betfredcasino Handicap, Silkwood makes plenty of appeal.

A maiden race winner on her debut at Wolverhampton, the Michael Jarvis-trained filly went on to chase home Mark Johnston's smart Zar Solitario at Kempton next time on her handicap bow. There is surely more to come from her and it would be no surprise to see her resume winning ways tomorrow as she switches from Polytrack to turf.

Sandown is staging a mixed card, and, on the jumping front, make a note of Desert Quest in the Betfredcasino Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls' charge is best-in at the weights here and will relish the expected fast ground, something he has not had for some considerable time.

Dale Gibson based at Boston Spa, heads to Wolverhampton to team-up with tomorrow's nap selection, Shy Glance, trained by the astute Alan Swinbank.

A well-backed winner at Thirsk last weekend, Shy Glance turns out in the Book Online At wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Handicap under a 6lb penalty, but there is every chance he can oblige again before he is reassessed by the handicapper.

Kevin Ryan has a couple of fighting chances on the Wolverhampton card with Hollywood George and Diksie Dancer.

The former is proving expensive to follow, but he is worthy of interest in the modest-looking Horizons Restaurant Selling Stakes. Diksie Dancer runs in the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Maiden Stakes and may have to improve much on her recent narrow defeat at Newcastle to go one better over this seven furlongs.


Racing selections

Tomorrow

Sandown
1.10 Desert Quest, 1.45 Mountain High, 2.15 Tybalt, 2.50 Mandingo Chief, 3.25 Turgeonev, 4.00 Sunshine Kid, 4.35 Silkwood.

Wolverhampton
1.40 Rule Of Life, 2.10 Mr Mischief, 2.40 Haroldini, 3.15 Hollywood George, 3.50 Diksie Dancer, 4.25 Shy Glance (NAP), 5.00 Holiday Cocktail.

Tomorrow's other meetings:
Perth, Chepstow, Newton Abbot.

Today's meetings:
Beverley, Perth, Fontwell, Southwell, Yarmouth.