QUICK JACK can go one place better than last year by winning the Betway Chester Cup.

The seven-year-old chestnut confirmed his aptitude for the quirky twists and turns of the Roodee 12 months ago when he got to within three-quarters of a length of Trip To Paris.

With that rival having since won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Quick Jack will be ridiculously unfortunate if there is a similar sort of ultra-progressive rival waiting in the wings this time.

Luck is key to this race, of course, as one mistimed challenge usually ends in failure. But with Ryan Moore back on board, trainer Tony Martin is clearly trying to take out as much possible insurance so as to avoid a rough journey.

The partnership were seen to particularly good effect at Newmarket in the autumn as Quick Jack turned in a smashing performance in the Cesarewitch.

Despite having been hamstrung by a bad draw, Moore worked wonders to get into a prominent pitch and only fell short by a length.

Punters can forget about his laboured Cork comeback run, too, as Martin had given strong assurance his representative would improve immeasurably for the run.

Quick Jack is no handicap snip but his experience of big-field handicap scrambles should serve today's nap selection very well indeed.

Moore will need to be sharp and alert from stall 16 – but a wide draw can be overcome if things go smoothly, as evidenced by Greenwich Meantime's success from the same gate in 2007.

Compatriot SOMEHOW is respected in the Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks, with Moore again on board.

Aidan O'Brien won this Listed affair 12 months ago with Diamondsandrubies and looks to have another likely type, judged on the filly's power-packed triumph in a 10-furlong handicap at Leopardstown.

Ballydoyle rather have the Epsom Oaks market cornered if Guineas heroine Minding does not run in the Derby – but Somehow would not be out of place in the field if she can take the next step along the ladder at Chester.

There's plenty of cash up for grabs in the Boodles Diamond Handicap, with GREEN DOOR taken to cause a bit of a shock for the Robert Cowell team.

The five-year-old is hardly on top of his game but he did not run too badly out in Dubai over the winter and will be far fitter than most.

Green Door, lest we forget, won the Flying Childers at Doncaster three years ago and although last month's Ripon run was uninspiring at best, the return to a decent surface is sure to aid his cause.

Cowell's expertise with sprinters should always be respected, while those in attendance when he won so well at Beverley last summer know the fires still burn brightly when he has conditions to suit.

TOP BOY has slithered down the ratings after a long losing streak but those who have kept the faith can finally be rewarded in the closing Bet Scoop6Soccer At totesport.com Handicap at Chelmsford.

ALWAYS ON THE RUN unseated Paddy Brennan in a Listed race at Ayr in April but all can be forgiven if he does what is expected of him in the Canada Life Handicap Chase at Kelso.

COOZAN GEORGE has been a cause of some angst for Malcolm Jefferson, such as a propensity to make bad jumping mistakes, but he deserves one more chance to get his act together in the racinguk.com Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

Paul Nicholls has some nice horses in action at Newton Abbot, with Silver Trophy runner-up ART MAURESQUE probably the pick of the crop in the valuable totepool Handicap Chase.