IT WOULD be a bit of surprise if white-hot stayer Who Dares Wins does not go very close in the Colwick Cup at Nottingham.

Wise trainer Alan King is keen to make hay with this versatile four-year-old, who runs in this mile-and-three-quarters test under a 6lb penalty.

Such was the manner in which he cut loose at Chester just under a fortnight ago, it would take a good one to stop him.

Who Dares Wins competed at the Cheltenham Festival on his penultimate outing but, for now, his future is very much on the level.

And although it will take a minor miracle for him to make the cut for the Ebor on Saturday week, this is a nice prize in its own right.

The step back up to a mile and three-quarters should be of no consequence whatsoever for today's nap selection, who is ridden by Fergus Sweeney.

MRS DANVERS' star can remain undimmed when she goes for gold under Richard Kingscote in the Bathwick Tyres St Hugh's Fillies' Stakes at Newbury.

Jonathan Portman's bargain buy caught the racing public's imagination over this course and distance in July when she stormed clear in a good renewal of the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

This is another step up for the unbeaten daughter of Hellvelyn – but she seems to be going places in a hurry and looks to have the right tools to scoop some black type in this Listed affair.

DANDY HIGHWAYMAN can stand and deliver in the Keith Partridge Memorial Nursery Handicap at Catterick's evening meeting.

Ollie Pears loves this young son of Dandy Man, who vindicated the North Yorkshire handler's faith with a really decisive victory over five furlongs at Beverley in July.

Although he missed out on top spot at Thirsk a few weeks later, he was hardly disgraced in finishing a close-up third to Major Jumbo and Wick Powell, who has since done well at Musselburgh.

Quite a lot went wrong for Dandy Highwayman on his last start as he was slowly away, while his jockey also lost his whip close home.

Granted a little more fortune, he should have enough quality to reverse Thirsk form with Major Jumbo – even in spite of having to carry top weight. P J McDonald has the ride.

Sir Mark Prescott sends PALISADE, with Luke Morris taking the reins, on the long journey to Newcastle and the hint should be taken.

The consistent three-year-old absolutely hosed up on his most recent start at Sandown and can make mincemeat of a 6lb penalty.

Rated lower on the all-weather than he is on the turf, despite having won like a good thing at Lingfield in July, Palisade is likely to take a heck of a lot of stopping in the TDX Handicap.

THAHAB IFRAJ can be trusted to go well in the Tilbrooks Landscape & Tuddenham Nurseries Handicap at Newmarket this evening.

The three-year-old chestnut proved his stamina for a mile and a quarter at Sandown in May, when he finished third in a race that has worked out very nicely indeed.

That was his first start of the season, so he can kick on at Headquarters off a 1lb lower mark under William Buick.