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Once again local trainers had a good weekend with Alan King leading the way with a 84/1 treble at Exeter on Sunday courtesy of Oh Crick 5/2, Group Captain 15/8 and Crystal D'Ainay 15/2.

The trainer was reported as saying that Group Captain performance was the best so far and could well have earned him a trip to the Ballymore Propertys Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Also at Exeter, Broad Hinton trainer Andy Turnell saddled Bible Lord 11/4 to win the Totesport Handicap Chase to earn a crack at the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham.

Ogbourne trainer Peter Makin was also in the winners enclosure at Lingfield when Emperor Court won the last race on the card ridden by Steve Drowne.

Former assistant to Brian Meehan at Manton George Foster saddled his first winner since taking out a licence in October.

King Of Legend ridden by fellow Scot Robert Havlin won the mile and a half handicap at Wolverhampton's Saturday evening fixture by three quarters of a length and no doubt his many followers in the Marlborough area would have had a bob or two on.

A couple of weeks ago race meetings were being abandoned because of waterlogged courses but At Ascot ahead of this weekends meeting the taps are being turned on to ensure the ground doesn't get too firm.

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels will be trying to strike the right balance over the ground and said that 12mm has already been put on the whole course and with a dry week forecast he will be monitoring the situation.

A bumper crowd is expected to see Paul Nicholls star performer and Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star, bid to take revenge on Monets Garden, who inflicted a rare defeat on Kauto in the Old Roan Chase early in the season in receipt of 14lb.

The couple clash in the Grade 1 Commercial First Chase and Monets Garden's trainer Nicky Richards reported the ten year old had worked fantastic and added : " He is a high class horse who has given us a lot of fun, and we love him.

"There are no easy races at this level but Kauto Star makes it that much harder. He won the race last year and jockey Tony Dobbin said he could have gone round again so we won't be making any excuses about the trip."

There are 14 entries for the race including the Phillip Hobbs trained Fair Along, the trainer said he will wait until later in the week to decide if he runs.

Whoever makes it to the post another top class performance from Kauto Star could see them all trailing in his wake.

The meeting gets underway with the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase that could see a close tussle between Air Force One and Joe Lively joint favourites for the Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival.

West Country trainer Colin Tizzard has high hopes of Joe Lively and he could be the one to be on.

Feature race on an attractive looking Wincanton card is the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle over two miles with a prize fund of £80,000 up for grabs.

With David Pipes Osana's opting to go straight to the Champion Hurdle, the way is clear for the Alan King trained Katchit to lift the valuable prize.

The first race is scheduled to begin at 1.30 and Steven Clarke Managing Director of the course said : " This is one of our most popular fixtures, due to the high prize money on offer and we are expecting some competitive racing .

The Red Square Vodka Gold Cup is the highlight of the Haydock card and it could be worth having an each way interest on the Carl Lewellyn trained Harrycone Lewis.

All weather racing fans are catered for with a meeting at Lingfield and an evening fixture at Kempton.

Best bet at Lingfield could be Baylini in the mile and a quarter handicap and at Kempton Having A Ball will be looking to go one better after finishing second on his two previous starts.

9:48am Thursday 14th February 2008

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