NORTH Yorkshire trainer Bryan Smart, who saddled a double at Hamilton earlier in the week, has good prospects of repeating that feat at Ascot this afternoon - and earning the appreciation of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former Manchester Utd supremo is one of the owners of Red Pike, who, along with Nameitwhatyoulike, provides Smart with two chances of success at Ascot before he prepares to travel to France on Sunday for a tilt at the Prix de l'Abbeye with his stable-star Moviesta.

Red Pike has already done his connections proud this season. Hambleton-based Smart has placed him to win at Thirsk, Haydock and, most recently, Hamilton where he beat the evergreen Klynch by two lengths.

Raised 5lb for that success, Red Pike will require a career-best performance if he is to capture the £30,000 Faithdean Handicap, but the task may not be beyond him, especially with his trainer in such excellent form.

Nameitwhatyoulike, previously based with Mick Easterby, made his debut for Smart at Thirsk last month and finished a half-length second to course specialist Comino. That was an encouraging display and it would be no surprise to see the three-year-old go one better in the Veolia Handicap, which opens the Ascot card.

Paul Mulrennan, who takes the mount on both Smart runners, and who is rapidly closing in on his maiden century of winners, is also set to team up with Movietsa in Sunday's showpiece sprint at the the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp.

Sir Mark Prescott has his string in good form and Chinese Jade can provide the Newmarket trainer with another winner in the Redcentre EBF Stallions Classified Stakes.

A winner at Carlisle two starts ago, Chinese Jade has since finished a creditable runner-up to Green Howard at Musselburgh. Lightly raced this season, he has more to offer. Luke Morris has the mount.

The £37,000 Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes is the feature race on the card and Marzocco may prove the answer as he seeks his first win of the campaign.

John Gosden's colt has run some fine races in defeat this term, finishing fifth to Kingston Hill in last month's St Leger, fourth behind Postponed in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and third in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot won by Hartnell. He is overdue a winning turn and opportunity is fancied to come knocking for him in this Listed event over one and three-quarter miles.

Also worth noting at Ascot are recent Newbury winner Above The Rest (4.15) and the consistent Jelly Fish (4.50), who was probably facing the impossible when chasing home Moscato, a dual-winner since, when conceding 16lb at Yarmouth last month.

Over the jumps at Hexham, Wakanda makes plenty of appeal in the Alison Woodman Swindells Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Sue Smith's gelding showed a fair bit of promise last season over hurdles and finished a creditable second to Grandads Horse on his reappearance last month at Uttoxeter.

The five-year-old now switches from hurdles to fences and the bigger obstacles promise to bring out the best in him. He carries the nap vote.

Tony McCoy could prove the star turn in Northumberland as he has good prospects of riding two winners.

McCoy partners Cut The Corner in the Bhest Novices' Hurdle for Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland. A winner at Tramore in August before finishing a decent second at Kilbeggan, Cut The Corner is fancied to take plenty of beating, despite the presence of the hat-trick seeking Patsys Castle, trained by Donald McCain.

McCoy can also win the 55 Years Of Postal Codes Interactive Handicap Chase on Kim Bailey's West End, a useful third at Market Rasen last time out and a winner at Southwell in August with McCoy on board.

Selections

Ascot
2.00 Nameitwhatyoulike, 2.30 Chinese Jade, 3.05 Red Pike, 3.40 Marzocco, 4.15 Above The Rest, 4.50 Jelly Fish.

Hexham
2.20 Cygnet, 2.55 Brick Layer, 3.30 Wakanda (NAP), 4.05 Phoenix Returns, 4.40 Toledo Gold, 5.10 Cut The Corner, 5.40 West End, 6.15 Snapping Turtle.

Today’s other meetings: Fontwell and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Ascot, Newmarket, Redcar and Wolverhampton.