IT’S been quite a year for George Chaloner. Major handicap successes at Royal Ascot and Newcastle, 50 winners ridden, and losing his apprentice’s allowance have contributed to a memorable 2014 for the Malton jockey. And he’s not finished yet.

Chaloner journeys to Southwell today with good prospects of completing a double for his Musley Bank boss Richard Fahey on Two Shades Of Grey and nap selection Pin Up.

The latter is particularly deserving of success. Runner-up in both her outings to date, at Wolverhampton, Pin Up went down by a short-head on her debut and failed by only half-a-length on her latest visit to Dunstall Park.

The two-year-old filly has the chance to go one better in today’s 32Red Fillies’ Maiden Stakes and, with Chaloner riding her for the first time, can make it third time lucky.

Two Shades Of Grey, who runs in the opening Ladbrokes Handicap, was a winner on turf, but has yet to strike in three tries on an artificial surface.

The three-year-old did best when running Bognor to half-a-length over this course and distance on his latest start.

There is probably more to come from Two Shades Of Grey and he is taken to come out on top this time, perhaps at the main expense of the in-form Novalist, trained at Wetherby by Robin Bastiman, who is chasing a hat-trick after two course wins last week, and who is now burdened with a hefty 12lb penalty.

Chaloner’s mount, Brooke’s Bounty, in the concluding Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap, is certainly worthy of consideration after a couple of turf wins.

But the gelding has yet to experience a race on a synthetic surface and, until he proves himself, a better option this afternoon may be Bognor. Michael Appleby’s charge could already have had his chances enhanced by Two Shades Of Grey, who was runner-up to him here recently.

Also worthy of consideration at Southwell are Tony Coyle’s Lendal Bridge (12.30), who shaped well on this course behind Novalist last time, and the promising Seychelloise (2.10), trained by Sir Mark Prescott and denied by only a head at Lingfield on her latest start.

At Ascot, the £30,500 Mitie Novices’ Chase is one of the feature events and a race which is set to host the eagerly-awaited debut over fences of the exciting Josses Hill.

Nicky Henderson’s gelding proved himself a high-class horse over hurdles, winning two of his four races, including a Grade 2 event at Aintree in April and finishing second to Vatour in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He is a classy recruit to chasing and it will be fascinating to see him in action.

The Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle - formerly known as the Kennel Gate Hurdle - has predictably attracted a smart field. It promises to be extremely competitive, but the vote goes to Emerging Talent who is living up to his name.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has yet to win over hurdles, but he was beaten only a neck into second by Vyta Du Roc in a similar Grade 2 race at Cheltenham last month, leaving the impression that he is capable of even more as he gains further experience.

He promises to be hard to beat in receipt of 7lb from the three previous winners in this race.

Dream Deal may prove the solution to the Mitie Handicap Hurdle. The Jeremy Scott-trained six-year-old ran out a decisive winner on his reappearance at Exeter and has been given a useful amount of time to recover from that first race since last March.

The handicapper has raised him 9lb, which obviously makes life more difficult for him, but he is a lightly-raced hurdler open to further improvement. Nick Scholfield again has the mount.

Also worth noting at Ascot, where racing takes place again tomorrow, are the promising Champagne Present (12.50), the mount of Tony McCoy, and the well-regarded Dashing Oscar (3.40).

• Kauto Star overcame “stage fright” when he took part in a dressage demonstration in front of a 6,000-strong crowd at the London International Horse Show at Olympia.


Selections

Ascot today
12.50 Champagne Present, 1.20 Dance Floor King, 1.55 Emerging Talent, 2.30 Josses Hill, 3.05 Dream Deal, 3.40 Dashing Oscar.

Southwell today
12.00 Two Shades Of Grey, 12.30 Lendal Bridge, 1.00 Pin Up (NAP), 1.30 Hana Lina, 2.10 Seychelloise, 2.45 Pearl Blue, 3.20 Bognor.

Today’s other meetings
Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Ascot, Haydock, Lingfield and Newcastle.