Racing: Hyperion's TV Tips

NEWBURY 2.40: The Martin Pipe-trained Khatir is the likely favourite but was receiving 8lb from Greenback when beating that rival by a length last time out. Richard Dunwoody's mount may be sharper this time but the two meet on level terms today. Both could struggle to hold DAKOTA GIRL. This filly stayed on well to win a 15-furlong Flat race on softish ground at Folkestone in September before overcoming Pipe's heavily-backed Flawed Logic by three lengths on her hurdling debut at Exeter a week later.

3.10: Kings Fountain makes a comeback after 11 months on the sidelines. He could dominate this field if recovering his old form, but will no doubt benefit from this run. Guiburn's Nephew took this race a year ago on his seasonal debut. The 12-year-old is without a win since, however, and the up-and-coming WELL BRIEFED looks the one to be on. The seven-year-old progressed well throughout a busy first season over fences, the high point arriving with victory in a valuable novice event at Ascot in April. That win, which followed a 10- week break, proved he performs well when fresh and his stable said yesterday that the gelding is fit enough for today's task.

3.40: DARK DEN, running in Britain for the last time today before being sent in pursuit of bigger prizes in the United States, won in soft ground at Chepstow three weeks ago, pulling 13 lengths clear of his field. Julie Cecil's colt gallops on relentlessly and can hold the highly regarded Moorish. John White's four- year-old is clearly very smart, having been second to Mysilv in the Triumph Hurdle last March, with Blue Grotto back in fourth. But neither of these will be as race-fit as the selection this afternoon. In addition, the Cheltenham event can often leave its mark.