Warming for Oats' backers

Kim Bailey received a pre-King George VI Chase fillip with a 653- 1 treble at Nottingham yesterday. The trainer, who will be represented in the King George at Sandown tomorrow by Master Oats and Book Of Music, had not saddled a winner for almost a month, but returned to form with Dominie, The Bud Club and Fellow Countryman.

With Norman Williamson injured, all three were ridden by different jockeys and Bailey has yet to confirm who will be on board Master Oats - backed from 11-2 to 4-1 with Ladbrokes - at Sandown. He is clearly hoping that Coulton will defect, allowing Jamie Osborne to resume a partnership that began at Chepstow. Mick Fitzgerald will ride Book Of Music.