TWO years ago when Sue Alston returned from Doncaster Breeze-Up Sales with a juvenile, who had caught her eye, for which she had paid £13,000, she was greeted by an unimpressed trainer-husband.

Eric Alston’s comment, after viewing the tall and lanky youngster, was, “I told you to buy a horse, not a giraffe!”

The Alstons can now relate that story in unified affection for the horse in question.

King Of Eden, now a four-year-old, has turned from giraffe into useful sprinter and, tomorrow at Hamilton, he has an oustanding chance of gaining his third win from his last four starts in the hands of Malton jockey David Allan.

A son of Royal Applause, King Of Eden did, indeed, prove too big and backward to do himself justice in each of the last two seasons. But this term, having matured into much more the finished article, he is now showing what he can do.

He won at Newcastle on his sesonal bow, was unlucky not to follo -up at Nottingham and then obliged again, virtually without breaking sweat at Carlisle last week.

King Of Eden has a 6lb penalty to overcome in tomorrow’s Sodexo Stop Hunger Charity Handicap, but the style of his latest success was hugely impressive and he is napped to score once more – proving that his days of being described as a giraffe are long gone!

Bona Fortuna may prove the answer to the Betfair Apprentice Training Series Handicap.

An all-weather winner last week, the three-year-old is trained by the shrewd Sir Mark Prescott, who seems to have targeted this race for a horse who could well run up a sequence. A 6lb penalty is not expected to prove a barrier tomorrow.

Kyzer Chief (3.10) should be running into form after three outings for trainer Ronnie Barr, who had a winner at Newcastle last week, while Lady Eclair (4.40) promises to be another winner for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.

Last week’s Ffos Las winner is selected to shrug-off an extra 6lb in the hands of Joe Fanning.

At Sandown’s evening meeting, Norton trainer Ollie Pears aims to register his first winner on the Esher course with Noodles Blue Boy in the Dan Frost Memorial Handicap.

Pears has the gelding in tremendous form, winning with him at Beverley two starts back and last week saddling him to finish second at Newcastle. Stiff tracks tend to suit ‘Noodles’, which is why Pears is targeting him at Sandown.

Ryan Moore, significantly booked to partner Noodles Blue Boy, looks the jockey to follow on the card.

The reigning champion also has solid winning chances on Lay Claim (7.15), who is dropped down in trip, the promising Direct Answer (8.25) and the in-form Penchesco (8.55).

• Tomorrow’s Wetherby meeting will be previewed in tomorrow’s paper with full runners and riders.


Racing selections

Hamilton
2.10 Lexi’s Princess, 2.40 Newbury Street, 3.10 Kyzer Chief, 3.40 Daring Dream, 4.10 King Of Eden (NAP), 4.40 Lady Eclair, 5.10 Bona Fortuna.

Sandown
6.10 Cocohatchee, 6.45 Noodles Blue Boy, 7.15 Lay Claim, 7.50 Directorship, 8.25 Direct Answer, 8.55 Penchesco.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Lingfield, Newton Abbot, Uttoxeter and Wetherby.

Today’s meetings:
Fontwell, Kempton, Nottingham and Ripon.