REDCAR staged its richest meeting of the season last Saturday with the Two-Year-Old Trophy taking centre stage and, for the third time, Richard Hannon's team took the valuable prize south, this time courtesy of Log Out Island.

Never far off the pace, the winner was well-ridden by Sean Levey, who is doing a fine job riding for the yard since the retirement of Richard Hughes.

Afterwards, he said: "Log Out Island is probably just coming to himself. In his last few races he's started to relax; he's not taking you on any more and therefore finishes his races off well. He'll be a nice horse for next year."

Later in the afternoon, Mark Johnston and Franny Norton teamed up to land the ten-furlong handicap with Freight Train, who made all the running.

Afterwards, Norton said: "He's still low mileage and hopefully he can go on from this as he's a big horse and handled the ground well."

The new week started with testing conditions at Pontefract, and the staying race produced a great finish, with the George Moore-trained Medicine Hat coming out on top under Tom Eaves.

Afterwards, the popular Middleham trainer said: "I thought he would win on the Flat, but he is a proper jumper. When Tom rode him last time he said he wanted 2m 2f at Pontefract. Off a rating of 60 he had to have a good chance and I can't wait to see him over hurdles."

Earlier in the day, Ann Duffield was all smiles after watching Heaven Scent come home in front, and so were the bookies as she returned at 50-1.

The winner was given a positive ride by the yard's apprentice, Rowan Scott, who said: "I wasn't expecting that. My 7lb claim must have helped and Heaven Scent has obviously come on for her first two runs. She keeps galloping and this track suited her."

Turning attention to the jumpers, it's great to hear that Grand National winner Many Clouds could make his seasonal return in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Trainer Oliver Sherwood has earmarked the 3m 1f Grade Two chase in three weeks as one of two potential starting points for the eight-year-old, ahead of him defending his Hennessy Gold Cup crown at Newbury the following month.

He said: "There are not a lot of options with a horse of his calibre as he is now rated 167. Obviously the race at Wetherby (Charlie Hall) is a possibility and on the same day there is a £100,000 chase at Ascot (Ascot Gold Cup).

"Subject to the weather and ground, I would think one of those two would come into the equation before the Hennessy. I would love to go back to the Hennessy. The one thing I did do right last year was giving him a prep run before the Hennessy."

Although keen to start his stable star back out over fences, Sherwood has not ruled out the possibility of him reverting back to hurdles should ground conditions not prove suitable at either Wetherby or Ascot.

Sherwood said: "Hurdles are another possibility for Many Clouds. I've not looked at the hurdle programme book for him. It would be the least of my three options though and I would prefer to keep him to fences.

"The one thing I don't have to do is protect his mark for the National as he can only get one pound more than last year."

While a return to the track is still a few weeks away for the son of Cloudings, who suffered his sole defeat last season in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Lambourn handler reports him to be in good order after recently taking part in his first meaningful piece of work since his win in the Aintree showpiece.

"He looks great and has summered really well over on the Isle of Man with Trevor (Hemmings)," said Sherwood.

"He has literally just had an indoor session with Yogi Breisner this morning. It is the first time he has left the ground since the National with Leighton (Aspell) and he had a really good morning.

"He did his first piece of work on Saturday. He was full of enthusiasm and looked good. Nathan Horrocks, who rides him out every day, said that he feels fantastic."