Whoshotthesheriff can hit the target for Kirby at Wetherby

The Bobby Renton Handicap Chase is the feature event as jumps action returns at Wetherby today.

Thet-wo-and-a-half-mile-contest is not the race it once was, but has nevertheless attracted some promising types, including Phil Kirby's Who shot the sheriff.

The seven-year-old won three times over hurdles a couple of years ago and made a smooth transition to chasing last season, with two victories supplemented by some sound efforts in defeat. He would more than likely have been no match for the bold front-runner Allmankind in any case, but he ran as though in need of a break when last seen contesting the Grade Two Future Champion Novices' Chase at the Scottish Grand National meeting at a yr in april.

Reverting to handicap company on his seasonal reappearance, Who shot the sheriff should go well if fit enough to do himself justice.

Abstinence is of clear interest as she returns from a break for the British Stallion Studs EBF Beckford Stakes at Bath.

Down the field on her racecourse introduction at Lingfield in December, Ralph Beckett's filly was a surprise winner on her three-year-old debut at Chelmsford in May, but has since proved that effort was no fluke whatsoever.

The daughter of loped eve ga was thrown in at the deep end on her next start when stepped up to group three level for newcastle' s Hoppings Stakes, but justified her place in the field by staying on late in the day to finish fourth behind subsequent Nassau runner-up Zeyaadah.

Abstinence was last seen finishing on the heels of two other high-class fillies in Golden Pass and free wind in the aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket in July, having since refused to enter the stalls prior to the Galtres Stakes at York.

Provided that issue does not raise its head again, Beckett's charge looks to have been found a good opportunity to get some winning black type to her name in this Listed event, with a step up to a mile and three-quarters expected to suit.

Brides Bay can make it third time lucky in the EBF Novice Stakes. The Richard Hughestrained juvenile chased home the promising sense of duty on her first career start at new bury.

She looked likely to go one better on her second attempt at Wolverhampton, but after navigating her way to the lead, she was mowed down in the final strides and passed the post fourth in a blanket finish.

If Pat Dobbs can deliver his challenge a little later, she should prove hard to beat.