Young Kenny, North Yorkshire's big hope for this season's Martell Grand National, returns to action at Wetherby tomorrow.

Winner of the Becher Chase at Aintree at the end of November, Peter Beaumont then targetted the Welsh National just after Christmas for his multi-talented gelding.

But the Brandsby trainer withdrew him from that contest after inspecting the Chepstow course and expressing concerns that all the frost had not come out of the ground.

Tomorrow's Rocom Handicap Chase over an extended three miles is hardly enough of a stamina test to bring out the best in Young Kenny.

But the 10-year-old has the vital element of class on his side and, with Russ Garritty in the saddle, he is expected to make a bold bid.

Few horses know their way around Wetherby as well as Master Wood, who has become something of a course specialist in recent years.

The Wetherby Racecourse Reception Centre Handicap Chase is the target for the Chris Grant-trained gelding, who won the corresponding race 12 months ago.

Winner of two of his four starts this season, Master Wood had 12 lengths to spare on his latest outing over this course and distance.

With Calvin McCormack in the saddle, a seventh Wetherby win could well come the way of nap selection Master Wood, owned and bred by former Scarborough trainer Roy Robinson.

The Wetherby Racecourse Conferences Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle will not take a great deal of winning and it could be worth rowing-in with Prominent from the Mick Easterby yard.

A useful horse between the flags last season, Prominent has struggled over fences so far this term, but certainly has the ability to win a modest hurdle race such as this.

Easterby, who has such a good record here, can complete a double with Meadowbank in the Harry Wharton Novices' Chase.

A useful point-to-pointer last season, Meadowbank has finished runner-up in both his efforts in novice chases this winter. Overdue a winning turn, he can make it third time lucky tomorrow.

At Wincanton, the featured John Bull Chase - the richest race of the day - looks likely to fall to Bellator.

Venetia Williams' gelding is nothing if not consistent and ran a solid race in defeat on his latest start when filling third place behind First Gold in the King George V1 Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He faces an easier task tomorrow and is fancied to regain the winning thread under Norman Williamson.

Southern Star has strong claims in the first division of the Spettisbury 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle, while Quainton Hills, who has run creditably in his two outings this season, can make it third-time-lucky in the Corscombe Handicap Chase.

Wetherby

1.20 - Prominent

1.50 - Meadowbank

2.20 - Harvis

2.50 - Young Kenny

3.25 - Master Wood (Nap)

3.55 - Kingdom Emperor

Wincanton

1.00 - Southern Star

1.30 - Irish Collonges

2.00 - Blackwater Brave

2.30 - Tortugas

3.00 - Bellator

3.35..........................Quainton Hills

4.05........................Compton Amica

Updated: 12:35 Wednesday, January 10, 2001