NORTH Yorkshire apprentice Anna Hesketh renews her acquaintance with a sprinting stalwart at Wolverhampton this afternoon as Methaaly aims to notch his tenth all-weather victory.

Trained in Cheshire by Michael Mullineaux, the evergreen 11-year-old has run in no fewer than 173 races in his career and has 18 wins to his credit.

Eight of those have been gained here at Dunstall Park, the latest coming a fortnight ago, with Hesketh in the saddle, when he prevailed by a head from Mambo Spirit. Hesketh also rode Methaaly to win at Bath in September.

The old-timer has been in tremendous heart lately and he would be assured of a warm reception if he could add to his impressive scoresheet in the second division of the Unibet Handicap over six furlongs.

Hesketh, who is attached to David Nicholls’ Sessay yard, teams up with her boss in the Unibet Selling Stakes and is fancied to complete a double on Fitz Flyer.

Although nowhere near the horse he once was, when he was rated more than 100, Fitz Flyer, who is these days rated some 30lb lower, won a claimer here a month ago in fine style.

He should be hard to beat in this company and is awarded the nap vote.

Sleep Walk promises to be a tough nut to crack in the featured Daily Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap over six furlongs.

Trainer Roger Charlton has brought the three-year-old along steadily and has placed her to win three of her four starts after being unraced as a juvenile.

There is almost certainly more to come from Sleep Walk. She does have to prove her versatility here, on her Tapeta debut, but she is fancied to be up to the task.

Freddie Tylicki is enjoying a cracking time at present and he can add to his growing tally of winners aboard James Fanshawe’s Panatella (4.55), while Royal Trooper (5.25), who has been placed on his last three outings at this course, may find opportunity knocking in the concluding handicap.

Phillip Hobbs, who has his horses in cracking form and who won Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby with Menorah, looks set to continue his winning run at Kempton.

The Minehead trainer has good prospects with Brother Tedd in the Book The Panoramic Novices’ Hurdle.

A bumper winner last season at Huntingdon, Brother Tedd was shaping well on his hurdling bow at Fontwell four weeks ago when he crashed out at the second-last flight. This looks a good opportunity for him to gain compensation.

Hobbs also saddles Royal Regatta in the qualifier for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

Successful at Aintree and Leicester in the first half of last season, Royal Regatta’s form tapered off in the second half which means he now has something to prove.

That said, he is a horse who was well regarded in the Hobbs stable this time last year and it would be unwise to dismiss him too readily as he returns from a summer off.

The feature event on the Kempton card is the £20,000 Weatherbys Private Banking Graduation Chase which looks a tightly-knit affair.

Marginal preference is for Theatre Guide, who was confined to only three outings last season, but who was placed in all of them, most notably when third in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Colin Tizzard’s gelding is a useful horse on his day and is fancied to kick-off this season on a winning note, just a matter of days before his much celebrated stable-mate Cue Card makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance at Exeter.

Also worth noting are the classy Commissioned (1.00), who was placed in Grade 1 company last term and who made an eight-length winning reappearance at Cheltenham last month, and Buck Magic (2.05), who will have the considerable assistance of Tony McCoy as he aims to go one better after his runner-up effort at Bangor on last month’s comeback outing.

Selections

Wolverhampton today
1.45 Sewn Up, 2.15 Methaaly, 2.50 Fitz Flyer (NAP), 3.20 Sleep Walk, 3.50 Twice Certain, 4.20 Coillte Cailin, 4.55 Panatella, 5.25 Royal Trooper.

Kempton today
1.00 Commissioned, 1.35 Brother Tedd, 2.05 Buck Magic, 2.35 Royal Regatta, 3.10 Theatre Guide, 3.40 Bertie’s Desire, 4.15 Rayvin Black.

Today’s other meeting
Plumpton.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Exeter, Kempton, Redcar and Southwell.