JASON HART, Britain's champion apprentice, breaks new ground this afternoon. He has his first mounts at Brighton and has every chance of riding a treble.

The Malton-based rider, who lost his claim earlier this year after clinching the junior title last November, has enjoyed a good season in his first campaign at a fully-fledged jockey and has formed a useful association with Wetherby trainer Richard Guest, for whom he partners three horses today.

Hart kicks off aboard Ambitious Icarus in the TM Lewis Shirts, Suits And More Handicap. Far from disgraced when beaten four lengths into sixth place at Musselburgh on his latest start, the gelding was a winner at Beverley in September. He is in here with strong claims off top weight.

Hart and Guest also team up with nap selection Lord Buffhead in the ChoiceBet Number One Telephone Betting Handicap.

The five-year-old was a recent winner at Ayr on a day when Hart rode three winners at the Scottish course. A 6lb penalty may not be enough to prevent him from obliging again on heavy ground which should not pose him any problems.

The underfoot conditions will also suit Captain Scooby, who rounds off the Hart-Guest raid in the concluding ChoiceBet Number One Telephone Betting Handicap over six furlongs.

Although he is not the easiest horse to win with, Captain Scooby has run some fair races lately, not least when finishing a close second at Catterick on his penultimate start. He should have no excuses today.

Salient is of particular interest on the Brighton card.

The gelding won by 19 lengths in similarly testing ground here last week. That win was achieved in an apprentices' race so he escapes a penalty in the ChoiceBet Handicap. Kieran Shoemark takes the mount.

At Wolverhampton's evening meeting, Richard Hughes, chasing a third championship victory, looks set to make a bold bid to replicate the three winners he rode on the course on Tuesday.

Hughes, leaving no stone unturned in his title challenge, can win on Frognal Beach (5.30), who was third at Goodwood on his latest start, the speedy Geological (6.00), who finished a creditable third to War Alert on his latest start at Bath, and Lear's Rock (8.00), who has adopted a consistent profile and is overdue a winning turn after finishing second on his last two starts at Ripon and Salisbury.

Hughes will be aboard the consistent Silver Ranger in the nursery handicap, but preference is for the William Haggas-trained Muradif (7.00), the mount of Seb Sanders.

The juvenile has come good since switching to an artificial surface and was a winner two starts back at Kempton before finishing second, beaten only a head, on his latest start on the same course.

The Richard Fahey-trained Her Red Devil (6.30), the mount of Paddy Mathers, and the hat-trick seeking Jolie Blonde (8.30) are two others to note at Dunstall Park.


Selections

Brighton today
2.10 Ambitious Icarus, 2.40 Rahmah, 3.10 Brandon Castle, 3.40 Improvise, 4.10 Salient, 4.40 Commanchero, 5.10 Lord Buffhead (NAP), 5.40 Captain Scooby.

Wolverhampton today
5.30 Frognal Bear, 6.00 Geological, 6.30 Her Red Devil, 7.00 Muradif, 7.30 Dutch Art Dealer, 8.00 Lear's Rock, 8.30 Jolie Blonde.

Today's other meetings
Uttoxeter and Wincanton.

Tomorrow's meetings
Cheltenham, Haydock, Newmarket, Redcar and Wolverhampton.