Stand by for a Royal win at Kempton tomorrow. Easter Ross can carry the Queen Mother's colours to a reappearance victory in the Up & Coming Novices' Chase.
The seven-year-old is a very useful hurdler, who won handicaps at Wincanton and Doncaster for his illustrious owner and was well fancied for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham only to fall at the second flight.
But trainer Nicky Henderson has always seen the gelding as a potentially high-class chaser.
Easter Ross certainly has the physique to take to the bigger obstacles, and his jumping is good - that Cheltenham fall was most out of character.
Nor is confidence lessened by his lack of a recent run - he has won first-time-out in each of his three seasons in training.
Henderson's fellow Royal trainer Ian Balding can collect the opening February Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.
Though mainly known for his exploits on the Flat, Balding does well with his small band of jumpers and looks to have another useful recruit for the winter game in Tarawan - an Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle entry.
His four-year-old showed smart form on the level, winning twice and reaching a place on a further seven occasions in 1999.
Given plenty of time to recover from his busy campaign, and to prepare at home for his new job, he should make a successful hurdling debut.
Do Ye Know Wha is so well treated at the weights in the Shepperton Chase that it is worth taking a chance on his jumping.
The useful hurdler made a successful debut over fences at Huntingdon in the first half of the season and has also finished a good second at Doncaster.
If again able to avoid the mistakes which have ruined his other outings in chases he should take full advantage of his low weight.
Prolific Flat winner Fatehalkhair can make a successful debut over fences in the McEwan's 80/- Novices' Chase at Musselburgh.
Brian Ellison's stable-star is also a useful hurdler _ much better than any of tomorrow's rivals - and need only jump the larger obstacles adequately to be very hard to beat.
Goes A Treat could spring a surprise at Wolverhampton in the Bet Direct On ITV Text Page 368 Stakes, a typically-tricky all-weather Showcase handicap.
The four-year-old is well treated on the useful form she showed for Peter Chapple-Hyam on the turf last season, and it would be no surprise to see her bounce back to her best now that she has joined Alan Berry.
She has very good early speed and could be just the type to take to all-weather racing - if she handles fibresand she will take an awful lot of catching.
