PAUL HANAGAN, who rides the favourite Taghrooda in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, heads to Newcastle today aiming to repay his former boss.

The former Malton-based jockey, pictured, rides Enchanted Garden for Malcolm Jefferson with whom he spent his first year in racing before going on to join Richard Fahey and become champion apprentice and champion jockey.

It was for Jefferson that Hanagan, then an unknown 7lb claimer, had his first racecourse rides and it would mean a lot to him if he could win on Enchanted Garden for the Norton trainer. It is not beyond the realms of possibility.

A useful hurdler, who won at Market Rasen in May and July, Enchanted Garden finished second at Musselburgh on the Flat in between those two victories. His subsequent run on the Flat, at Beverley seven weeks ago, saw Enchanted Garden sent off the 2-1 favourite but he ran a disappointing race and finished out of the money.

Jefferson has given him time to get over that race and the freshening-up process may well have a positive effect. Enchanted Garden runs in the Henry Colbeck Fish & Chips Handicap and is napped to bounce back to winning form on behalf of Hanagan as he prepares for the biggest ride of his career.

Taghrooda was surprisingly beaten at York's Ebor Festival in the Yorkshire Oaks, but was subsequently found to be in season. She had previously been unbeaten and had won the Epsom Oaks and the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. She heads to Longchamp with leading claims in the most prestigious race in Europe.

Graham Gibbons can land the STP Construction Handicap on Venutius.

Ed McMahon's gelding was pipped on the post on his belated first outing of the season at Carlisle three weeks ago.

Pavers Star looks sure to go well in the North Sea Logistics Handicap.

Trained at Middleham by Noel Wilson, Pavers Star was a Musselburgh winner two starts back. She has since finished third on the same course, beaten only half-a-length in a blanket finish and is plainly in good heart. Joe Fanning has the mount.

William Buick heads to Newcastle and is unlikely to return home empty-handed. Indeed, John Gosden's stable jockey could dominate the early part of the card as he rides interesting maidens for John Gosden and Peter Chapple-Hyam in the first four races - Keble (2.00), Dagher (2.30), Taysh (3.00) and Direct Times (3.35).

At Nottingham, Just Us Two can get punters off to a good start in the opening EBF Stallions Slip Anchor Maiden Stakes.

The juvenile stepped up on his unplaced debut performance when finishing a one length second at Sandown three weeks ago in the race won by Waady. Robert Cowell's Royal Applause colt may have more to offer yet and has a good opportunity here to break his maiden under Freddy Tylicki.

Donny Rover looks an attractive proposition in the £25,000 Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Handicap Final.

A winner on this course in April, Mick Appleby's gelding has not stood still since and was successful at Newmarket on his latest appearance seven weeks ago. He is entitled to go well in this valuable contest, despite having been raised 5lb in the ratings.

There is also £25,000 up for grabs in the Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series Handicap Final.

Arctic Feeling has been running well for Richard Fahey and Sammy-Jo Bell, and can be excused his latest unplaced effort at Ayr, where he was badly drawn. He has each-way claims, but the vote goes to the progressive Triple Chocolate, placed by trainer Roger Teal to win at Windsor, Newmarket and Haydock on his last three starts. Although he's up another 5lb, Triple Chocolate is a speedster going places. Jimmy Quinn has the mount.

Also worth noting is the consistent Express Himself (4.20) and Declan Carroll's recent Beverley runner-up Tweety Pie (5.20).

Newcastle today

2.00 Keble, 2.30 Dagher, 3.00 Taysh, 3.35 Direct Times, 4.10 Breakable, 4.40 Enchanted Garden(NAP), 5.10 Venutius, 5.40 Pavers Star.

Nottingham today

2.10 Just Us Two, 2.40 Waldnah, 3.10 Hillgrove Angel, 3.45 Donny Rover, 4.20 Express Himself, 4.50 Triple Chocolate, 5.20 Tweety Pie.

Today's other meetings

Kempton and Salisbury.

Tomorrow's meetings

Bangor, Kempton, Southwell and Warwick.