Northern Boy, who helped Seb Sanders in his quest to tie the jockeys' championship when winning at Wolverhampton earlier this month, is one of two Mick Easterby-trained runners with strong claims at Kempton today.

Together with Fenners, Northern Boy makes the long journey to the London track from their Sheriff Hutton base, and the fact that Easterby has elected to send them so far suggests this away day is not merely for the good of the horses' health.

Northern Boy goes for the Bet Now At WBX.COM Handicap with Dale Gibson in the saddle.

On his latest outing, the gelding scored under Sanders during the final week of the Flat turf season and helped the jockey to force an unforgettable dead-heat with Jamie Spencer in the title race.

Clearly in good form, Northern Boy has a stiffer test to cope with this time, especially against recent course winner Confidentiality, trained by the shrewd Michael Wigham. But the North Yorkshire raider is fancied to come out on top.

Fenners also looks to have good prospects for Easterby and Gibson in the World Bet Exchange Handicap. A creditable second to Key Partners on this course last month, Fenners will probably not need to improve much on that performance to go one better here.

The nap vote is awarded to another Yorkshire raider at Kempton, Maromito, who goes for the Bet Now At WBX.COM Classified Stakes.

Trained near Wetherby by Robin Bastiman, this grand old timer, a six-times winner, gained his latest success at Musselburgh in May. He has been running respectably on turf lately and, in this moderate contest, the speedy ten-year-old - a lead horse at home for the high-class Borderlescott - is napped to show his rivals a clean pair of heels.

At Wolverhampton tomorrow, all eyes will be on Prince Noel as he bids to extend his remarkable recent course record.

Since winning at Musselburgh in October, Prince Noel has run four times at Wolverhampton and won on three occasions, his latest success coming last Friday night.

Trained at Flaxton by Noel Wilson, the three-year-old is in rude health at present. He can oblige again under a penalty in the Go Pontin's Short Breaks Handicap.

Some may feel that I have completely lost my marbles by awarding tomorrow's nap vote to a horse who has yet to win in 18 attempts.

Wulimaster, however, deserves supporting for a little while longer. David Barker's exasperating gelding has run decent races on his latest starts, twice in ladies' races, and is certainly up to winning a small race or two. Fingers are firmly crossed that he can finally break his duck in tomorrow's Go Pontin's Holiday Handicap.

Also worthy of attention are the promising The Gatekeeper (3.20) and the speedy The Salwick Flyer (4.20).


Racing selections

Kempton (today)
12.50 Maromito (NAP), 1.20 Marino Prince, 1.50 Border Edge, 2.20 Dinner Date, 2.50 High Plains, 3.20 Northern Boy, 3.50 Ever Cheerful, 4.20 Fenners.

Today's other meetings:
Leicester and Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
1.20 Rich Kid, 1.50 Caprio, 2.20 Blythe Spirit, 2.50 Wulimaster (NAP), 3.20 The Gatekeeper, 3.50 Prince Noel, 4.20 The Salwick Flyer, 4.50 Gone'n'dunnett.

Tomorrow's other meetings:
Folkestone and Fakenham.