SHANTY STAR (2.30) bids to keep the silverware on home territory by lifting this afternoon's Yorkshire Cup at the Knavesmire.

The Middleham-trained grey colt cemented his position among the top UK stayers with a hard-fought victory in the two-mile Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot last year.

Following that famous victory, connections decided to rest the son of Hector Protector, but Mark Johnston has since revealed to readers of Racing North the reason for Shanty Star's lengthy lay-off.

"We've given him all the time in the world to improve again, and hopefully our patience will pay off," reports Mark, who is no stranger to success in the valuable Group 2 contest, having picked up the prize with Zindabad in 2002.

Backers looking to get off to a flyer in the opener could do worse than side with Chappel Cresent (1.30) in the Langleys Solicitors Handicap.

Chappel Cresent only has a 3lb penalty to shoulder for his decisive triumph at Chester, and despite stepping back a furlong in distance, there's every possibility he can complete a quick-fire double on ground sure to suit.

Barathea Dreams (3.35) has got lucky by pulling the favoured number one stall out of the hat for one-mile the Sharp Minds Betfair Stakes.

Stan Moore's stable-star is on a sharp upward curve, rallying gamely to nail Appalachian Trail right on the wire at Sandown recently.

It is impossible to put a price on such fighting qualities, a trait which will surely stand Barathea Dreams in good stead once jockey Martin Dwyer has him under the cosh in the final couple of furlongs.

Whereas a low draw is a major advantage on the round course at York, the opposite normally applies to the straight track at Salisbury.

The trend favouring high numbers is even more pronounced in fields of 15 runners or more, which is an important factor when considering the prospects of the back-to-form gelding Goodenough Mover (5.25), a strong fancy from stall 19 in the closing Tyron Handicap.

The pick of the National Hunt action takes places at Ludlow, where Windross (6.15) makes plenty of appeal.

Alan King's veteran chaser showed his turn was near when running a blinder at April's Aintree Festival, a far cry from this evening's less challenging Tanners Wine Handicap Chase