By Nick Robson, PA
Plenty will have been eagerly awaiting the return to action of Harry Charlton's Skimmer and he reappears in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday.
Unraced at two, the Juddmonte-owned colt made a winning debut at Leicester in April.
At the time the race looked nothing out of the ordinary but to say it has worked out well would be an understatement.
The runner-up Asmen Warrior was fifth in the London Gold Cup and has subsequently won, while there has also been a victory for the now 89-rated third, two wins for the fifth, and a success for the eighth home.
Skimmer, by Kingman out of Scuffle making him a half-brother to St Leger winner Logician, has obviously not been the easiest to train but a win here may see him take up his entry in next month's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Colin Keane is understandably coming over for the ride on Skimmer but is also an eyecatching booking on Kingdom Of Stars in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Handicap.
Still a maiden after six outings, he has only found one too good the last twice and went down by the barest of margins most recently at Chelmsford.
It is always hard to take when going up in the weights for a near-miss, but he has only been put up 2lb and Keane might find the key to him.
Few yards are in better form than that of Jack Channon currently and he sends Medinilla up to Catterick for the Race Le Veinard Handicap.
Channon has had seven winners over the past fortnight at a 30 per cent strike-rate and it could have been even more impressive as nine other runners have finished in the first three in that time.
A winner at the second attempt last season at Ripon in September, she was then put away before reappearing with a victory at Wolverhampton off 68.
She failed to win off 5lb higher at Thirsk last time out but she was hassled for the lead there and short of room at a crucial stage, suggesting she might be worth another chance.
Now that David O'Meara's In A Hurry has got her head in front, she might go o a roll.
Agonisingly caught on her reappearance at Ayr when looking all over the winner, she was also second at Beverley before finally winning at Thirsk.
It was only an ordinary affair she won but she was so impressive she went up 3lb in the ratings.
Dylan Cunha's Come On Eibhlin finished a very respectable ninth on her debut in the Queen Mary as a 250-1 shot.
She finished ahead of a host of previous winners so it will be interesting to see how she fares down in grade in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Yarmouth.
It will be no walk in the park against George Boughey's 400,000gns newcomer, Zighy.
Roger Varian's Majaz caught a tartar last time out in Blue Bolt but should find things easier in the Infobond Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Blue Bolt has now won three on the bounce, including a Listed race at Sandown, so Majaz did well to be only beaten just over a length.
William Haggas' High Degree has been second twice but can make it third time lucky in the Winningpost Bookmakers 40 Years In Racing Maiden Stakes at Ffos Las.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
CATTERICK: Race 1: 15.20 Obee Jo, Race 2: 15.50 Harswell River, Race 3: 16.20 Shes Crafty,
Race 4: 16.50 Medinilla, Race 5: 17.20 Cosmic Soul, Race 6: 17.50 In A Hurry.
YARMOUTH: Race 1: 15.35 Spirit Star, Race 2: 16.05 Come On Eibhlin, Race 3: 16.35 Majaz,'
Race 4: 17.10 Hinitsa Bay, Race 5: 17.40 Little Tiger, Race 6: 18.10 Sychell.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 18.50 Ocean Heights, Race 2: 19.20 Likeness, Race 3: 19.50 SKIMMER (NAP),
Race 4: 20.20 Kingdom Of Stars, Race 5: 20.55 I Follow Rivers, Race 6: 21.25 Wadacre Grace,
Race 7: 21.55 Aspire To Glory.
FFOS LAS: Race 1: 19.10 Torbay, Race 2: 19.40 Taaklam, Race 3: 20.10 Hardlass, Race 4: 20.40
High Degree, Race 5: 21.10 Galactic Glow, Race 6: 21.40 Sugarpiehoneybunch.
ALL TO COME: Medinilla (Catterick, Race 4) and Skimmer (Kempton, Race 3).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za