NEVILLE BYCROFT snapped up a bargain when he purchased World At My Feet (2.15) for a measly 1,600 guineas at Doncaster's 2003 October Sales.

The lightning-fast two-year-old won in a common canter at Thirsk for the Malton-based trainer a fortnight ago and she returns to the scene of that victory this afternoon to stake a claim for a trip to next month's Royal Ascot meeting.

"World At My Feet won well on the soft, but we always thought she would handle quick ground and a day out at Royal Ascot would be nice," said Bycroft, who has every reason to believe his flying filly can collect Thirsk's opener, the EBF Novice Stakes.

In the later Sun Inn Normandy Handicap, Double Vodka (5.00) has the best of the draw in stall one.

Lynda Ramsden's three-year-old showed plenty of promise when trained by Michael Dods last season, and despite failing to sparkle on his recent reappearance, the booking of the smart 3lb apprentice, David Allan, represents a very positive ploy by connections.

One of the real eye-catchers at the Chester Cup meeting was Mexican Pete, who defied his 25-1 odds to run a cracker when third to Court Of Appeal.

Mexican Pete (2.20) proved to be an extremely progressive middle-distance performer in 2003, winning three times in all, including an emphatic six-length success at Salisbury.

Peter Hiatt's four-year-old has clearly gone the right way over the winter months and he rates the best bet on a whopping seven-race card at Nottingham in the mile-and-three-quarter totesport.com Handicap.

Perhaps the most interesting runner in the £40,000 Kilvington Stakes is the lightly raced and totally unexposed Petite Rose (2.55).

After winning on her belated debut at Folkestone, Petite Rose let favourite backers down when flopping at Ripon in April on her only other start.

I was in attendance that day and the selection, who is a fabulous, big, strapping filly, simply didn't handle the undulations at the track and is therefore well worth another chance to show her mettle.

Uttoxeter's spectators get the chance to see the dual Cheltenham Festival hero, Earthmover (5.45), who looks a proverbial "steering job" in the Mount Argus Hunters' Chase.

He won't be much value and it might be worth having a win double with the likely market leader in the two-mile £15,000 Peter Douglas Selling Handicap Hurdle, Comfortable Call (6.45).

The Hamish Alexander-trained raider has won his last couple of races at Wetherby and Sedgefield with breathtaking ease, so much so that it would probably be folly to oppose him this evening, despite having shot up considerably in the weights.

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