Joe Fanning has for long been one of the most under-rated riders in the business but he's at last getting the recognition he deserves.
The Irishman, who rides the majority of Mark Johnston's horses, has had a good few weeks with Group success aboard the highly promising Shamardal at Goodwood and on Mister Monet at Haydock at the weekend.
Fanning, who was again seen to good effect at Leicester yesterday, can get back among the winners at Thirsk this evening and he's fancied to score on board True Magic in the Weatherbys Printing Services Handicap over five furlongs.
James Bethell's sprinter had not been doing anything wrong in defeat in handicap company but had a nice confidence booster when successful in uncompetitive maiden company at Leicester last time.
Her mark has been left alone by the handicapper but she's very much of interest from her favourable draw in a race that comprises mainly exposed performers, best of whom may be the reliable Baron Rhodes.
Fanning has an interesting ride on Johnston's newcomer in the Beatrice Stephenson's Maiden Auction Stakes over seven furlongs but preference is for Lynda Ramsden's Able Charlie.
The son of Lomitas shaped well at Doncaster on his debut when chasing home a fair sort and, although he has the wide draw to overcome, he'll appreciate the step up to this trip.
Richard Fahey has fair claims of landing the Black Sheep Brewery Handicap over two miles with the in-form Chevin.
The five-year-old appreciated the decent gallop over a mile and six furlongs at Catterick last week and she left the impression that the step up to this longer trip would be in her favour.
At Lingfield Ali Bruce takes the eye on first run for Gary Moore in the Sponsor A Race At Lingfield Handicap over seven furlongs.
After showing ability when chasing home a subsequent winner at Ayr on his penultimate start, the lightly raced four-year-old won with more in hand than the official margin suggested at Southwell last time.
Although bare form is nothing special, there's every chance that he could have got in lightly for this handicap debut and, although yet to race on this surface, his stable have a good record on Polytrack.
Sir Mark Prescott's horses have been in tremendous form and his Hypnotic makes plenty of appeal in the Lingfield Leisure Club Nursery over seven furlongs.
The progressive juvenile bettered his debut effort by some way when winning an ordinary looking maiden over this course and distance by upwards of five lengths last time.
He's open to stacks of further improvement and he's taken to get the better of Roger Ingram's Folkestone winner Sky Crusader, who still holds a Group 1 entry at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.
Prescott and Seb Sanders can be on the mark with Cupid's Glory in division one of the lingfield-racecourse.co.uk EBF Median Auction Maiden over six furlongs, while at Windsor's evening fixture, the best bet on the card could be Prince Samos, backed into favouritism on his debut.
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