Brandsby trainer Peter Beaumont and Great Habton jockey Russ Garritty will bid to make their mark at Stratford tomorrow when Monty's Quest attempts to carry off a £15,000 prize.

The nine-year-old goes into the Mercedes-Benz Direct Handicap Chase over three miles on a high note after cruising to an easy win at Perth on his latest start.

That victory was achieved with Monty's Quest wearing sheepskin cheekpieces, a popular alternative to blinkers these days, and they had the desired effect, with a wide-margin success.

Although he has been raised 11lb by the handicapper since, Monty's Quest need only reproduce that level of form to follow-up here.

River City promises to take plenty of beating in the Blenheim Water Novices' Chase.

Mick Fitzgerald's mount, a former high-class hurdler, accounted for Westender on his chasing bow at Worcester. He looks a useful recruit to the fencing game.

Jockey Paddy Brennan will need to be firmly on his guard if he is to persude the wily Kalambari to put his best foot forward in the Stratford Operatic Society Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

That Kalambari is talented enough to win a race of this nature is beyond reasonable doubt, but he is a reluctant hero as he proved at Market Rasen on his latest start.

After Brennan had waited until half-way up the run-in to send him into the lead, his mount swerved violently to his right near the finish, effectively throwing away a race he should have won.

Anyone backing Kalambari tomorrow will need nerves of steel, with Brennan likely to attempt to put him in front at the last possible moment.

Two Of Clubs is worth noting in the Mercedes-Benz Direct Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Middleham trainer Patrick Haslam, who does so well with his smallish string of jumpers, is sure to have schooled Two Of Clubs well for his hurdling bow and it is surely significant that Tony McCoy has the mount.

At Newton Abbot, Alan King looks a trainer to follow, as he has strong claims of completing a double with Jaboune and my Nap selection Half An Hour.

The former goes for the £12,000 Visit Jennings Racing In Chelston Handicap Hurdle and merits attention, even though he was switched to fences last season, developing into a decent novice chaser. His hurdling form is also sound.

Half An Hour, bidding to follow-up his recent Stratford success, runs in the Jennings Bookmakers Handicap Chase. A 16-length winner on his latest start, he looks capable of defying a 7lb penalty.

Tomorrow's tips:

Stratford

2.15 Two Of Clubs, 2.45 River City, 3.15 Monty's Quest, 3.45 King of Barbury, 4.15 Kalambari, 4.45 Miss Skippy.

Newton Abbot

2.00 Proud Peer, 2.30 Tonic Du Charmil, 3.00 Garolsa, 3.30 Westender, 4.00 Jaboune, 4.30 Half An Hour (Nap), 5.00 Mattkar.

There are no other race meetings in England tomorrow.

Updated: 09:39 Saturday, July 17, 2004