MR BOSTON can help defray the expenses for his long journey down to Surrey by landing the Horse and Hound Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown today.
Mary Reveley never sends her horses so far south without a chance, and the 11 year old loves the Esher course where he gained Lis last success at this meeting a year ago.
He then returned to the track to contest the Whitbread, where he did not disgrace himself in finishing fifth, beaten 32 lengths, to Cache Fleur.
And it was at this track that Mr Boston made his seasonal debut in December when he managed to finish a 13 length fourth behind Willsford.
It was a worthy performance made the more respectable by virtue of the fact that the Halyudh gelding suffered a nasty cut on his leg.
The injury preceded a two and a half month lay off, but Mr Boston showed he was none the worse for it by putting up a creditable performance in Newcastle's marathon Eider Chase last month, finishing just under 10 lengths fourth to Killeshin, conceding 16lb to John Manners' charge.
Mr Boston looked all over the winner at the second last but faded as the trip began to take its toll. Today's distance of three miles will suit him much better and he can land the spoils in this amateur jockey's event under Adam Ogden.
Ogden looks set for a double with his partner On The Other Hand looking a warm order to land the second amateur event on the card, the Duke of Gloucester Memorial Hunters' Chase.
Although Gordon Richards' charge heat little on his seasonal how at Musselburgh, he is a useful animal and should have no trouble disposing of his three rivals.
Richards can also gain at least one success up at Ayr, where he is the leading trainer, courtesy of Precipice Run in the Arthur Challenge Cup handicap chase.
Tony Dobbin's mount has varied between timber and fences this season without success, but his best showing came over the larger obstacles over Bangor's two and a half miles. A repeat of that performance over the same trip should he enough.
