SIXTEEN runners charging down the home straight on the Knavemire is sort of scenario that suits Stretton, in with a great shout of picking up the opener at York today.

Stretton (1.50) can be a bit of quirky character in that he needs everything to drop right if he's going to put his best foot forward. For starters James Bethell's runner has to be ridden with plenty of restraint, and neither is he any good if the horses up front aren't going full pelt from the second the stalls fly open.

In view of the fact that the latter of those criteria is almost sure to be fulfilled in the Cadogan Silver Salver Handicap, Joe Fanning could conceivably weave his mount through the crowded pack and deliver a killer punch right on cue inside the final furlong.

In the following Queen Mother's Cup for Lady Amateur Riders, trainer Noel Wilson and his wife, Nicky, team up with Stallone (2.20).

Nicky is a very competent jockey, showcasing her considerable skills with an excellent tactical ride via an all-the-way victory on the stable's Santiburi Lad at Haydock a week ago last Friday.

Stallone is not the type of horse to be ridden quite so handy, however that should not detract from his prospects, especially as the seven-year-old has run really well on his two starts so far this term.

I particularly respect the decision to step Stallone back up in trip to 12 furlongs, having been there or thereabouts over a mile-and-a-quarter on his last couple of outings.

The additional stamina test seems ideal, as does the prevailing quick surface, which is another reason to support the Wilson double-act.

Mark Johnston's Etmaam (2.50), who failed to justify favouritism at Doncaster last time out, bids to gain compensation in the Daniel Prenn Royal Yorkshire Handicap.

Etmaam is a bonny-looking colt with plenty going for him from a form perspective.

I am a little worried about the extended mile-and-a-quarter distance, because in time he's going to be suited by much further.

Provided Richard Hills put his pedal to the metal once rounding the final bend, the combination could still have enough in hand to repel all challengers.

Another of the tips potentially performing over a slightly inadequate distance is Up Tempo (4.35) in the Charles Henry Memorial Handicap.

For my money the six-year-old gelding is marginally better over seven furlongs, so he's going to have to pull out all of the stops if he's going to get involved in the finale of this six-furlong dash.

The sport is awash with hard-luck stories, most of which need to be taken with a pinch of salt, however there are always exceptions to the rule and in the case of Up Tempo, he simply hasn't had the rub of the green during any of his last three outings.

On the first occasion he was stuck behind a wall of horses at Redcar, he was then drawn out in the cheap seats at York, and finally experienced a nightmare passage when twice badly hampered in a rough race at Chester on Wednesday evening.

Light-weight jockey Tyrone Williams hasn't been among the winners this term, but his fortunes might be about to change aboard the Sandown raider Lets Roll (1.00).

Lets Roll failed by inches to open his seasonal account at Newmarket last month and seeing as his Middleham trainer, Chris Thornton, passed on a decent word for his charge to readers of Racing North, he'll do for us.

Jump fans are restricted to just one meeting at Hexham, where Ringside Jack (3.40) should be in his element.

Ringside Jack was no mug on the Flat and although he's yet to convert that ability to the National Hunt arena, the stiff Cumbrian track might well bring out the best in Chris Fairhurst's representative, who contests the Bishop Skinner Insurance Brokers Handicap Hurdle.

If you're still wearing your betting boots come the evening meeting at Leicester, Bint Royal (6.45) and Vermilion Creek (8.45) are both strongly fancied to go well in their respective events.

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