AFTER the Cheltenham Festival's thrills, tomorrow's racing menu includes the Midlands Grand National, the Winter Derby and a Yorkshire meeting at Wetherby.

Stillington trainer Harry Hogarth saddles his rising star King Killone in Wetherby's feature race, the £20,000 Rocom Handicap Chase. I think that David O'Meara's mount will be hard to beat.

King Killone has won two of his four races this season, the most recent being a valuable event at Newcastle. Proving that jumping is the name of the game, he finished alone after his only remaining pursuer came to grief at the final fence.

An improving horse with a bright future, King Killone can prove himself in handicap company tomorrow by ruling the roost once again.

Also worth noting at Wetherby is Mr Prickle in the Constant Security Services Novices' Chase.

Peter Beaumont's six-year-old was a decisive winner on his latest start and will not be bothered by tomorrow's heavy ground.

At Lingfield, the £100,000 betdirect.co.uk Winter Derby has a competitive field of 14 runners including Irish raider Arturius, trained by Philip Rothwell.

His wife gave birth at the beginning of the week and Rothwell went on to celebrate his first Cheltenham Festival winner when Native Jack won the cross-country chase.

Arturius has good prospects of keeping the celebrations going a while longer. A much-improved horse on Polytrack this winter, and winner of both his races, the four-year-old can make a bold bid to complete his hat-trick.

Tony Culhane, who lives near Thirsk, travels to Lingfield to ride Nap selection Fyodor in the £20,000 betdirect.co.uk Sprint.

The William Haggas-trained five-year-old has been a prolific winner since last autumn. His latest Wolverhampton success saw him beat three previous scorers.

The £110,000 John Smith's Midlands Grand National takes pride of place at Uttoxeter, where Ossmoses bids for a notable double.

Trained by his owner Don Forster near Darlington, the gelding won last month's similarly valuable Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock, where he revelled in the testing conditions.

Tomorrow's heavy ground and extended four-miles will likewise play to the strengths of this out-and-and-out stayer, who will again be partnered by Ritchie McGrath.

Link is ruled out after five deaths

THERE was no common link in the deaths of five horses at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday, according to the racecourse managing director.

The horses killed were Holy Orders in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle; Basilea Star, Millenaire and Mr Babbage in the Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase; and Olaso, who was pulled up in the closing Pertemps Final.

That took the total number of deaths at this year's meeting to seven, following Bayard on Tuesday and No Where To Hyde on Wednesday.

Racecourse managing director Edward Gillespie said: "With the exception of the horse in the last race, all of the horses were killed in falls.

"While the death of any horse is very regrettable there is no evidence to link them in any way.

"We have had a large entry for many races this season and I think that is a factor."

Saturday's tips

Wetherby

2.15 Liathroidisneachta, 2.50 Mr Prickle, 3.20 Polar Gunner, 3.55 Aston Lad, 4.25 King Killone, 5.00 Dock Tower, 5.30 Barton Belle.

Uttoxeter

TV races: 2.20 De Blanc, 2.55 Ossmoses, 3.30 Just Beth.

Lingfield

TV races: 2.05 Fyodor (Nap), 2.40 Kingsgate Prince, 3.15 Arturius, 3.50 Thyolo.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Newcastle.

Updated: 11:57 Friday, March 17, 2006