China King looks good

China King can reign over his five rivals in the Glenmuir Sportswear Handicap Hurdle at Kelso today. Jimmy FitzGerald's charge had some fair form in bumpers last season before taking his chance over timber where he performed creditably to run Royal York to half a length at Hexham at the end of May.

Although the general opinion was that the six-year-old was flattered by the margin he proved it was no fluke by winning over two miles at Perth in the first race of the new season.

Despite it being a moderate looking event he won with ease, beating Rattle by five lengths and did his confidence no harm at all.

As has often been the case with China King, FitzGerald has given his charge a break - it is 180 days since the Perth success - and his patience can be rewarded over the extra quarter mile.

Norman Mason has a good reputation for bringing horses back from a long lay-off.

A case in point is Classic Con- tact who returned to action for the first time since season 1993-94 to land a Hexham Handicap Chase last month.

The 11-year-old survived a scare at the second last before being driven out to beat Tighter Budget by five lengths and can benefit from that outing to win the two mile, six furlong Tavern Handicap Chase.

Newbury once again suffers a dearth of runners for the second day of the current meeting, with just 30 declared at the overnight stage.

Favourite backers should be successful in at least two of the six events, albeit at very short odds, courtesy of the Martin Pipetrained pair Daraydan in the Tom Masson Trophy Hurdle and Northern Starlight in the Hallowe'en Novices' Chase.

Tony McCoy takes the mount on the pair and he can claim a hat trick courtesy of Billingsgate in the finale, the EBF Novices' Hurdle Qualifier.

At Worcester, Island Vision takes the eye in the Colwall Handicap Hurdle.