IT’S been an up and down week for Howard Johnson.

Three winners at Wetherby on Wednesday put him on a high, but the County Durham trainer was yesterday dealt a knockout blow when his best ever jumper Inglis Drever, who was only a year into his retirement, had to be put down after falling foul of colic.

A top-notch campaigner, Inglis Drever won the World Hurdle at Cheltenham three times and had a huge following in the north of England. Not surprisingly, his trainer is devastated by his sudden death so soon into his richly-earned retirement.

Tomorrow, Johnson sends three runners to Kempton and can bounce back with three winners, all ridden by his excellent stable-jockey Denis O’Regan.

Professor Higgins kicks off the Johnson raiding party in the William Hill-sponsored Handicap Chase.

Winner of his final two starts last season, when he really got his act together, the six-year-old has the scope to continue his progress this winter and it would come as no surprise to see him pick up where he left off, especially given the current form of the Johnson horses.

Red Moloney goes for the £20,000 Sign-Up Offer Hurdle and is the type to be at his best when fresh.

A former useful Flat horse with Kevin Prendergast, Red Moloney proved himself a smart recruit to hurdling last season, winning a brace of races before coming up slightly short at Cheltenham and Aintree.

He remains an interesting prospect and, with this sharp track likely to play to his strengths, he should be hard to beat.

Top Dressing should also go well for Johnson and O’Regan in the concluding William Hill Handicap Chase.

Although unplaced in both his starts this season, he is a capable horse on his day and, up against some vulnerable rivals here, he promises to be involved in the finish.

Alazan (2.20), successful at Wincanton ten days ago, should win the opening contest for Philip Hobbs, while the very smart Australia Day (3.25), a recent winner on the Flat at Ascot, should add to his previous hurdles win at Worcester in the Listed race on the card.

On the Flat at Southwell, Tim Easterby aims to bag the richest race on the card, the £19,000 Coral Backing Sue Ryder Care Handicap with Collateral Damage.

Having gone a long while since winning a race, the gelding has found his form with a vengeance, landing his last four starts, most recently a handicap at Redcar.

Although unproven on this all-weather course, Collateral Damage relishes some cut in the ground on turf, so this Fibresand surface should be ideal for him.

Paul Midgley has enjoyed his best ever campaign on the Flat and the Westow trainer can add to his tally with Silvanus in the Mercedes Benz of Derby Handicap.

Although not the easiest of horses to win with, Silvanus, previously trained by Ian Semple, has plenty of ability. Far from disgraced on his latest outing on turf, he should not be inconvenienced by this return to sand. With Paul Mulrennan in the saddle, he is awarded the nap vote to resume winning ways.

Also worthy of attention are High Ambition (4.25), winner of two of his three races this season, and Pawan (5.00), who has a solid record on this course.

Racing selections

Kempton 2.20 Alazan, 2.50 Bergo, 3.25 Australia Day, 4.00 Professor Higgins, 4.35 Red Moloney, 5.10 Balthazar King, 5.40 Top Dressing.

Southwell 2.10 Demonstrative, 2.40 Blue Nymph, 3.15 Collateral Damage, 3.50 Silvanus (NAP), 4.25 High Ambition, 5.00 Pawan, 5.30 Skysurfers.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Fontwell.

Today’s meetings: Catterick, Cheltenhan, Kelso, Newmarket, Wolverhampton.