ALAN King has his team in tip-top form and if Hold on Julio gets his jumping together he could run a huge race in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday. But he also sends decent hurdlers MANYRIVERSTOCROSS and Ardlui up to Ripon for the £25,000 2m handicap at 2.55. Manyriverstocross ran a blinder at both Cheltenham and Aintree and this is his first run on the flat since 2009. The trainer says he is in great form and with Graham Lee on board he could be very hard to beat.

James Given has always thought a lot of WOODY BAY. It was a big surprise that he failed to get his head in front as a juvenile although he came second twice and ran some other promising races. At Haydock on Saturday night he contests a Class 5 handicap (7.00) and he kicks off his three-year-old campaign on a mark of 70. That looks fairly workable and he could run a big race at a big price.

Elsewhere there is a good word for Clive Cox’s juvenile TRINITY BOY who runs in the 2.45 at Leicester. He has been doing it nicely at home. And the policy of backing Mark Johnston’s two-year-olds on their second start could pay dividends again when ATLANTIC AFFAIR contests the opener at Ripon. She showed up well on her debut and will know a lot more about what is required today.