TAKE a chance on globe trotting Gabr in today's Group Two Sandown Mile. Hamdan Al Maktoum's six year old has every chance on his 1994 form for Robert Armstrong which included third places at Sandown and in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and victory in the Beeswing Stakes at Newcastle.

He was subsequently sent to Dubai, where he raced without success, before a profitable trip to the United States which saw him win twice and was second in a Grade Three event at Belmont Park.

A return to Armstrong's Newmarket yard has clearly not harmed him judged on his return to action at his local course last week. He finished a highly encouraging fourth in the nine furlong Earl of Sefton Stakes.

Gabr will be seen to much better effect today when he is confidently expected to reverse placings with Newmarket third First Island.

Mister Jolson looks the bet of the day to resume winning ways in the five furlong Surrey Racing Handicap. The seven year old's lack of success in the last 18 months is not a sign of declining ability - he remains a very useful sprinter. Rather, he has been very high in the weights since he won four handicaps in the 1994 season.

He has returned to a more favourable mark for the start of this term and is poised to take full advantage. After a pipe opener at Doncaster, he looked a sure fire future winner last time at Kempton where he ran a blinder to finish fourth from an unfavourable draw.

Those drawn high dominated every sprint at the meeting so it spoke volumes for Mister Jolson's wellbeing that he should go so close from stall three.

Darter is a very interesting contender for the Guildford Handicap in which he carries just 8st 7lb after an unsuccessful three year old campaign with Luca Cumani.