IT'S a round-trip of around 620 miles from Brian Ellison's Norton yard to Ffos Las racecourse in South Wales. Bearing that in mind, it is to be hoped that the trainer's only runner at the hideaway track can hit the target this afternoon.

Ellison has booked champion jockey Richard Hughes to ride nap selection William Hogarth in the IWEC Handicap, a low-grade contest over a mile and a half.

William Hogarth has been lightly raced on the Flat this season, running only twice and being beaten only three-quarters of a length by Think at Beverley last time out in an amateur riders' event.

That form is nothing to write home about, but then his rivals here are no great shakes either. William Hogarth is fancied to find opportunity knocking - and make his arduous journey well worthwhile.

Paul Hanagan, who clinched a double at York last Saturday, which included a thrilling success in the Gimcrack Stakes, has good prospects of riding a couple of winners on the card.

Tansfeeq, who runs in the Jubilee Park Nursery, has shown a fair level of ability in maiden company at up to seven furlongs. It is interesting that trainer Barry Hills has switched the gelding to the minimum trip today. He could take plenty of catching.

Hanagan can also strike aboard Taqneen in the Jubilee Park Handicap.

The three-year-old, trained by Ed Dunlop, won at Thirsk four weeks ago, a victory which came on the back of a sequence of placed efforts. There is probably a little more to come from him yet.

James Doyle is another jockey with good prospects of a double.

Prince Khald Abdulla's retained rider teams-up with Why Not Now, a recent Brighton scorer, in the Three Rivers Handicap and the well-bred newcomer Bold, who may not need to be anything special to make a winning debut in the Pt Civil Engineering Maiden Stakes.

At Hamilton, Samantha Bell could prove the rider to follow.

The Malton-based apprentice, attached to the Richard Fahey stable, rode her first Epsom winner on Tuesday aboard Arctic Feeling and the 5lb claimer can follow-up aboard Geanie Mac and Tadalavil, both trained by Linda Perratt.

Few would begrudge Geanie Mac a winning turn in the Racing UK On Sky 432 Handicap after a series of placed efforts and finishing runner-up at Musselburgh on her last three starts. She is long overdue a visit to the winners' enclosure.

Tadalavil, who runs in the Digby Brown Raceday On Tuesday Handicap, was a winner at Ayr in mid-summer. He has since run creditably in defeat and was second at Newcastle on his latest outing. He should go well on a course where he has won in the past.

Mark Johnston, a director of the course, has plenty of winners at Hamilton and he could well add a couple more to his tally.

The Middleham trainer saddles Risen Sun, a filly by Sharmardal, in the opening EBF Stallions Debutants Maiden Stakes and, with none of the runners having had a previous run, she makes plenty of appeal on pedigree and the strength of her stable.

Johnston can also win the Bill And David McHarg 'Hands And Heels' Apprentice Series Handicap with Torridon.

Runner-up at Wolverhampton last time out, Torridon ran a solid race when second to Her Red Devil on this course earlier in the summer. A reproduction of that form could see the three-year-old home in front.

Racing selections

Ffos Las today

2-00 Tansfeeq

2-30 Why Not Now

3-00 Bold

3-35 On Demand

4-05 Taqneen

4-35 William Hogarth (NAP)

5-05 Le Maitre Chat

Hamilton today

4-45 Risen Sun

5-20 Cahal

5-50 Torridon

6-20 Dark Ocean

6-50 Geanie Mac

7-20 Showtime Star

7-50 Tadalavil

Today’s other meetings: Fontwell, Stratford and Lingfield.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Bangor, Salisbury, Thirsk, Wolverhampton and Sandown.