TRAINER Alan King has made his name almost exclusively in the National Hunt arena, but that could change today should Salsalino lift Europe's richest handicap, York's £190,000 Tote Ebor.

King, who learnt his trade under the great David "the Duke" Nicholson, branched out on his own in the early nineties and is now based at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire. Alan is one of the "nice guys" of racing and an extremely astute operator.

Realising the really big bucks are to be made on the Flat, Alan switched some of his string away from jumping and the reward has been the likes of Salsalino, an admirably tough and genuine middle-distance gelding.

In the context of today's race, Salsalino's latest close-up fourth placing in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood was nothing short of a sensational effort over a trip a tad too short at 12 furlongs.

On that evidence he is absolutely "thrown" in at the weights for the Ebor, and given the hardy three-year-old also doesn't mind the hurly-burly of big fields he looks sure to give us a run for our money at odds of around 8-1.

Any tipster needs to put forward a couple of each-way alternatives in such a competitive affair, thus savers are recommended on Mamcazma (25's) plus last year's winner, Hugs Dancer (9's).

Mamcazma has run several promising races over course and distance and can be excused his latest flop at Ascot, where he was stopped in his tracks going for a daring run up the inner.

Hugs Dancer did us no harm when landing a 9-1 winning nap in the Chester Cup and, despite zooming up the weights, will still be galloping on when many have cried enough.

Even though the Knavesmire could be labelled the UK's fairest racetrack due to its huge sweeping bends and long level home straight, curiously York still seems to favour front-runners.

Backing Greta d'Argent (1.45) in the opening mile-and-a-quarter Motability Handicap makes sense.

Mark Johnston's filly showed she loves to be at the head of affairs by making all to score at Pontefract in the spring, then following up with a similarly brave trail-blazing success at Doncaster last month.

In the saddle on both occasions was Joe Fanning, recently the subject of a full-page feature article in the Racing Post extolling his virtues as great front-running jockey. Welcome publicity for Joe, although with due modesty I have to say this column has been championing his cause for five years.

The most valuable race on the card, the £250,000 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks, features a clutch of top-class middle-distance fillies including the 2002 winner, Islington (2.20), who has to overcome Oaks heroine, Casual Look, if she is to post back-to-back victories. Casual Look is reported to be "better than ever" by her regular rider Martin Dwyer, but I still reckon Islington, the subject of encouraging vibes from Newmarket, is the one to beat.

Aidan O'Brien, who originally entered five of his speediest youngsters for the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes, has whittled it down to one for the race proper - Grand Reward (3.30).

The Irish raider has only been seen out once in public when making the journey over from Coolmore to capture a hotly-contested maiden at Newbury in May.

* Janus' hot streak continued at York yesterday. After a winning nap selection on Monday, Colin Woods followed it up with Bollin Eric at odds of 7-4.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.