LEADING freelance jockey Richard Quinn has been trusted with the job of steering Snow Goose (3.50) to victory in Ascot's one-mile Listed Valiant Stakes.

Trainer John Dunlop was forced to change the riding arrangements for his filly at the start of the season after the retirement of Pat Eddery, who twice galvanised the grey to success in 2003.

Quinn, struggling to re-establish himself in the top-flight after relinquishing his post as stable jockey to Henry Cecil, is beginning to get to grips with Snow Goose having partnered her to a close-up second just behind Antediluvian in a similar standard contest at Sandown.

She fought like tigress that day and there was no disgrace in defeat because the winner is without any shadow of doubt one classy cookie. There's also much more of a general swagger about Dunlop horses compared to earlier in the month, which can only be a good thing as far as Snow Goose is concerned.

Mark Johnston's decision to fit Nero's Return with first-time blinkers, plus drop him back in trip from a mile-and-a-quarter to six furlongs, represents a radical change of tactics to say the least.

Being the sort of guy who is right more times than he's wrong, Johnston will be hoping Nero's Return comes back to the sort form which carried him to a sparkling brace of sprint wins during his unbeaten juvenile campaign.

Johnston has a great chance of getting in the money with earlier runners, Secret History (2.15) and Mana d'Argent (2.45), as well as Fiefdom (2.35) in the Harrogate Novice Stakes at Thirsk.

Fiefdom has hardly put a foot wrong in his short career and may have most to fear from fellow Middleham raider, the James Bethell-trained Strawberry Vale.

Trying to suss the winner of either of the closing big-field handicaps is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Erring on cautious, a small each-way bet on Amelia (4.45) is advised in the Stanland Warwick Dryer Fillies Handicap.

* Janus (Colin Woods) was in cracking form at Sandown yesterday where headline horse, Queen of Poland (13-2), and selections Peak Of Perfection (8-1) plus Pitch Up (7-2) all obliged.

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