Kantara Castle can get off mark for Mackie

The four-year-old gelding has not won in 17 starts since he was claimed by John Mackie from out of Richard Hannon's yard, but that unwanted statistic can soon be stricken from the record.

There were, after all, distinct signs he might finally have turned a corner in three recent starts at Wolverhampton, most notably when he got to within a length and a half of Elle Rebelle on October 17.

He did not do too badly, either, over this course and distance a week later when third behind Outlaw Torn - despite having been badly hampered inside the final two furlongs.

Having signed off for the Hannons on a mark of 72, Kantara Castle returns to Wolverhampton some 18lb lower in the weights.

With the trusty Joe Fanning back on board, he must hold every chance in what is a humdrum affair at best.

Phantom River looks a swell proposition in the Ladbrokes Handicap.

Alan King's three-year-old needs to master a relatively strong line-up featuring a clutch of bang-in-form rivals, but she could be a little less exposed than most.

That certainly looked the case over this eight-and-a-half-furlong trip in October when she finished third on her handicap debut, beaten just a length and a half.

Phantom River would probably have got a little closer, too, had she not made a tardy start, while having to be switched wide for daylight hardly helped her cause.

King must have been fairly satisfied by that run, but the Observatory filly has nonetheless been relieved of 2lb upon her return to the fray - a point of interest that merely strengthens her claims at Dunstall Park.

Mister Miyagi ought to be followed in the Robert Giles Agencies Introductory Hurdle at Ascot.

Trained in Warwickshire by the in-form Dan Skelton, this six-year-old could take pretty high rank this winter from what we have seen so far.

The dual bumper winner looked pretty sharp in the spring, but his hurdling debut at Cheltenham last month generated much more interest.

Mister Miyagi jumped smoothly and accurately in a strong maiden hurdle before he stretched nicely clear of Drumlee Sunset, who is well regarded by Philip Hobbs.

This looks just as tough as the race at Cheltenham, but Skelton's representative is clearly a talented beast and should not be knocked off his stride by overly demanding conditions - assuming the forecast is correct, of course.

It should be interesting to see how Beltor gets on in the Canaccord Genuity Handicap Hurdle.

Robert Stephens' four-year-old has thrived since he was thrust into the National Hunt arena, winning well on his hurdling bow at Ludlow before claiming Grade Two honours at Kempton in February.

It was no great shock to see him end up in the Triumph Hurdle, but he did not enjoy the smoothest of passages towards the line and could not reduce the deficit created by the likes of Peace And Co, Top Notch and Hargam.

Be that as it may, Beltor still ran pretty well into sixth place and starts life in handicap company off a mark of 143.

An expected big run at Ascot should tee up a return to Graded class later in the season.

Duke Of Navan's class can come to the fore in the Money Advice Group Graduation Chase at Haydock.

Nicky Richards' seven-year-old has looked accomplished over fences but he perhaps did not quite get home in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.

Duke Of Navan looked like he was going to play a part in the finish on Merseyside before he grew tired with two fences to go, eventually taking fifth spot behind Sound Investment.

Whether he actually has the requisite stamina to handle two and a half miles remains a moot point as it must be remembered that he was having his first outing since May in the Old Roan.

Trainer Nicky Richards is seemingly yet to be convinced, though, as Duke Of Navan is back over two miles for a race that should do him the power of good.

Saint John Henry's form figures are hardly inspiring, but the prospect of more testing ground than at Cheltenham last time could see him revived in the Bet totetrifecta Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.