Nominating bankers or best bets at any of the major meetings is never as easy as it sounds.

Racing over three days at York this week will be of the highest quality, but that does not necessarily mean it will be a favourites' benefit.

Having said that, punters did not fare badly at last year's Ebor meeting with three market leaders, headed by Nayef (6-4), successful on the opening day.

Two more went in on Wednesday, Leadership (5-2) and Country Reel (3-1), and also on Thursday, Russian Rhythm (8-13) and Kyllachy (3-1), but the meeting was not without its shocks, as shown by Hugs Dancer lifting the Tote Ebor at 25-1.

Horses for courses could be the adage that rings true.

Nayef goes for back-to-back victories in the Juddmonte International Stakes following a rare disappointing effort in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

That run is best ignored and he will be a tough nut to crack over this extended mile and a quarter.

But he could be value as Falbrav, who beat him in the Coral-Eclipse, is likely to be backed to confirm the form.

The Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes is usually the best trial for the St Leger - last year's Doncaster hero Bollin Eric was third.

The final Classic is wide open and Franklins Gardens can stake his claim by winning this Group Two prize.

He is currently as big as 25-1 for the Leger, having been forgotten since his disappointing run in the Vodafone Derby. Yet before Epsom he had been on everyone's short-list thanks to wins in the Blue Riband Trial and the Lingfield Derby Trial.

A good run tomorrow would see his price plummet.

His trainer, Yorkshireman Mark Tompkins, won the Leger with Bob's Return and has been bringing Franklins Gardens along with these two races in mind.

The biggest cheer of the week will go to Persian Punch should David Elsworth's popular stayer win the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Stakes for a third time.

It will take a brave punter and an even braver horse to get the better of the 10-year-old, who took this race in 1998 and 2001.

He never goes down without a fight and he has won his last two starts by a short head.

On Wednesday, Islington bids to repeat last year's win in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks.

She looked exceptional when trouncing a top-class field last August and only has her own sex to beat after taking on the colts in races such as the Coral-Eclipse.

Her trainer Sir Michael Stoute has given her time to recover from her sixth to Falbrav in the Eclipse.

This year's Vodafone Oaks heroine Casual Look is likely to take her on, but the way Islington trounced Kazzia and Quarter Moon 12 months ago, the first two home in the Epsom fillies' Classic last season, suggests the four-year-old is the one to be on.

Hugs Dancer is seeking to repeat last summer's win in the Tote Ebor. James Given's admirable performer carried 8st 5lb that day but has 9st 6lb this time.

However, he has done nothing but improve, winning the Tote Chester Cup and recording another win over the Ebor course and distance last month.

Another good performance seems assured, but one horse lurking in the wings to sweep Hugs Dancer away could be Inglis Drever - if he gets in.

They say money talks, and when there is loads of cash for a horse trained by Sir Mark Prescott then it speaks volumes.

The Newmarket maestro won the Ebor with Hasten To Add ten years ago and went close with Foreign Affairs in 2001.

Inglis Drever, a four-year-old by In The Wings, has been let in at York with only 8st and his odds have steadily tumbled from the day the weights were announced.

Laid out for this £190,000 handicap since winning at Newmarket in June, Inglis Drever is currently around the 10-1 mark.

The only proviso is that he is by no means guaranteed to get a run as there are lots of horses above in the handicap and only 22 can run. It could be that Prescott has done too good a job!

Speedsters take centre stage on Thursday's card with the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes.

Darley July Cup hero Oasis Dream defeated Australian ace Choisir at Newmarket and can prove himself king of the sprinters over this flying five furlongs.

The Peugeot Lowther Stakes, won last year by subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Russian Rhythm, may throw up another exciting juvenile filly in Carry On Katie.

Jeremy Noseda's charge bolted up by 12 lengths on her debut at Ascot and the daughter of the highly-promising young stallion Fasliyev could also go on to better things.