DANTON is well worth a dabble in the opening Thwaites Smooth Beer Handicap at York this afternoon.

With only two runs under his belt, the giant three-year-old son of Cadeaux Genereux represents a more-or-less an unknown quantity.

Fair enough he won on his debut over nine furlongs at Newcastle, but it was in a small field and the value of the form is hard to assess.

The same can be said of his only other outing when third in a Classified Stakes event over an extended mile at Beverley 11 days ago.

In such instances it often pays to take an educated guess, and in my book the step up to 12 furlongs for Danton (2.10) should theoretically suit the gelding judged on the way he has been working on Middleham High Moor.

The following Persimmon-sponsored Strensall Stakes is a crackerjack of a Listed contest.

Unless he comes limping into the paddock, the unbeaten Godolphin star Equerry, will more than likely head the betting. Frankie's Dettori's mount has not been seen out in public since landing a Group 3 at Longchamp just under a year ago and if he is to maintain his 100per cent record, Equerry must cope with the likes of the useful Snowstorm.

Michael's Bell's smart colt finished a creditable eighth in the Arlington Million in Chicago last time out despite being unsuited by the rain-softened surface.

Considering Night Flight (3.10) prefers to launch his final burst from just off the pace, he ran a remarkable race from the front when narrowly touched off by Technician at the Ebor Meeting.

I suspect Richard Fahey's strapping grey sprinter will be ridden with just a tad more restraint in the £25,000 Showcase Handicap, tactics which will suit the Malton raider much better.

Not far behind Night Flight in the York contest, Lingfield-bound Labrett (5.25) went into plenty of people's notebooks by producing a turbo-charged finish to snatch seventh spot, having been hopelessly outpaced in the first half of the contest.

Brian Meehan's charge now returns to seven furlongs, perhaps a more appropriate distance, especially at one of his favourite courses.

Following trainer Philip Hobbs over the sticks at Newton Abbot could well result in nice-priced double via Navarre Samson (2.00) and Ettrick (4.30).

The former ran well below par at Fontwell last time although there might have been a valid excuse since the unique figure-of-eight track does not always bring out the best in some horses.

Ettrick also under performed when a beaten favourite at the same fixture, but could easily turn out to be a totally different proposition in the closing Pond Handicap Hurdle.

* Martin Pipe makes another bid to go through the card when the champion trainer has runners in all six races at Newton Abbot this afternoon. He has declared 13 horses, including five in the last race from a total of 26 entries. He has leading fancies in every event with stable jockey Tony McCoy having a full complement of rides for Pipe.