Colonel Cotton, still awaiting his first win of the season, can hit the jackpot at Ascot tomorrow.

The gelding, trained by Neville Callaghan, goes for the £70,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint Showcase Handicap and is strongly fancied to come out ahead of a big field, which includes a talented trio of runners from Tim Easterby's Great Habton yard.

Colonel Cotton has run numerous good races this season, including one at York, where he was narrowly beaten after unluckily suffering from a stumbling start.

He has bags of ability, and, drawn well in stall four tomorrow, he is napped to emerge with flying colours.

Tim Easterby's triple-bid is made up of My American Beauty, Good Girl and Artie, but none of the three may quite have the firepower to cope with Colonel Cotton and jockey Francis Norton.

Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman could enjoy a good pay-day with Mister Sweets in the £14,000 Mail On Sunday/Tote Mile Handicap Qualifier.

The four-year-old has been running consistently well all season and, although he probably has nothing in hand of the handicapper as a result, he should make a bold bid all the same.

The Hong Kong International Sale Auction Stakes has cut up to a small field, which offers Bathwick Bill the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Rod Millman's juvenile is currently going from strength to strength, and although both his wins have been achieved over six furlongs, he should have no trouble staying the seventh he faces here.

Hawksbill, winner of his only race, is taken to double his score in the Sino Group Trophy, while stablemate Adopted Hero has good prospects of returning to the winning trail in the Hong International Raceday Handicap.

At Newmarket, James Fanshawe can play a starring role on his local course.

Fanshawe has a fast-improving four-year-old in Fleet Of Light, who can make it three wins for the season in the Sofa And Co Rated Handicap.

The trainer also has a bright chance of lifting the Ballygallon Stud Maiden Stakes with Azarole, likewise to be ridden by Jamie Spencer.

Also worth noting at HQ are well-bred newcomer Thajja (2-15) and the in-form San Antonio (3-15).

Tomorrow's tips:

Ascot

2.05 Hawksbill; 2.35 Mister Sweets; 3.05 Colonel Cotton (NAP); 3.40 Tadris; 4.15 Bathwick Bill; 4.50 Adopted Hero

Newmarket

2.15 Thajja; 2.45 Say What You See; 3.15 San Antonio; 3.50 Azarol; 4.25 Fleet Of Light; 5.00 Kaluana Court

Newton Abbot

2.25 Toi Express, 2.55 Maidstone Monument, 3.25 Princesse Grec, 4.00 Marrel, 4.35 Fear Siuil, 5.10 Silver Sleeve.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, July 26, 2003