Danny Cook feels Yesyoucan would not be out of place in a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival after defying top weight with ease in the Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle.

The eight-year-old was having only the 10th start of his life off a mark of 132 but he laughed at his opponents under Cook, who enjoyed his greatest moment as a jockey on Great Endeavour in the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham in 2010.

Brian Ellison picked up Yesyoucan for just £6,000 from David Arbuthnot in June and he has now won three of his six starts for the yard. He claimed a valuable pot at Haydock the time before last but got stuck in the mud at the same track on his most recent outing. Yesyoucan (11-4) was also the horse who provided Cook with his first winner after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a bad knee injury.

Cook told Racing UK: "He gave me a really good feel all the way around on that bit better ground. The last day at Haydock, the ground was very soft and he didn`t enjoy that so Brian gave him a little break. I don`t see any reason why we can`t be thinking of Cheltenham and Aintree after that as the handicapper will give us a fair rise, but he keeps on improving and we don`t know where he`ll stop."

Venetia Williams and Aidan Coleman can seemingly do no wrong at present and Emperor`s Choice (15-8 favourite) claimed another win in the Cumberland Show Handicap Chase.

The victory looked unlikely for most of the race as Sydney Paget outjumped his rivals, but Coleman's perseverance was rewarded with a half-length success.

Micro Mission (5-2) provided Samantha Drake with her second win in two days in the British Stallion Studs EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Chase. Chris Grant`s mare's task was made much easier by the first-fence exit of the odds-on Irish raider Charlie's Vic.

Drake said: "I`ve done really well on her and I`m very lucky that Chris has given me the ride on her. I didn`t know the favourite had gone until Callum (Whillans, on Bolin Fiona, the only other finisher) told me when we were going down the back straight. She's very clever and careful at her fences but there was no pace and we were left in front so she was just looking for company."

Phil Kirby and Kate Walton have enjoyed a good start since they joined forces and Kirby's Picks Milan (22-1) turned over the Donald McCain odds-on favourite Moscow Presents in the Happy 40th Birthday Lee Watson Novices' Hurdle.

Kirby said: "He`s a grand horse. Howard (Pickersgill, owner) bought him to go pointing but said he'd love to have a horse run under rules. He`s taken a bit of time to get to a racecourse, but he had one run in a bumper where he ran well and today was treated as being educational and whatever else he did was a bonus. He`s done it really well. He dug deep and he`ll be better over a fence. That`s Howard's first win under Rules so he`s over the moon. The yard is full, we`ve got 52 horses and the place is buzzing."

13 May 2013

Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom
Aspect on route to big things
Room at the top for Cityscape
Freedom steps into chasing ranks
Lucky thirteen in line for Lockinge
Galway beckons for Swinton hero
Sajjhaa set for late return
Cadeaux thriving in Singapore
Pink primed for Duke Of York
Liber takes aim at Musidora
Battle won for O'Brien
Pretending the real deal
Duntle back to winning ways
Classic glory for Flotilla
Style wins the day in Paris
Highclere double-handed for Dante
Cornerstone plans up in the air
Beckett planning Gesture workout

12 May 2013

No hurry for Jammy plans
Guest in hunt for more Ascot glory
Vow set for Goodwood return
Gold-en boy Anodin in Classic hunt
Buick aiming for French strike
Angel flies home to land Chartwell
Barizan bounces back in style
Queally lights up Ascot meeting
Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win
Nevis takes depleted Trial contest
Hard-fought battle won at Haydock
Secret impresses in Oaks Trial
Ascot drama for Fanning

11 May 2013

Felix foot-perfect on fencing debut
Cavalryman leads Cup charge
Ramsa ready to stand Trial
Duntle out to dazzle in Amethyst
Swift return doesn't bother Moran
Garman gives Bolger hope
Henderson: Ground vital for Voice
McMahon sweet on Tart Ascot claims
Murphy to move to France
Athos flies to Ormonde glory
Dee day for impressive Magician
Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne
Secret's out for Lingfield glory
Lambe expects good run from Hall
Marengo ready to do battle
Greatwood on trial at Lingfield
Barizan sneaks into Swinton
Jamesie gunning for Vic-tory

10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
Blinkers considered for Guarantee#
Bonfire camp bemoan Huxley flop
Moohaajim has six appeal
Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests