KEVIN Darley looks all set to improve an already decent record at Beverley by riding a treble aboard Stage Flight, Lazzoom, and Fruit Salad.

Doubtless Darley will still be mourning the impending retirement of dual 1000 Guineas heroine, Attraction, who has supplied him with five star-studded Group 1 successes to date.

Nonetheless as Arthur Stephenson used to say, "little fish are sweet", and Darley won't mind the fact that the first prize for hopefully partnering Stage Flight (1.40) to victory in the opening Maiden Auction Stakes is little over £4,000.

As far as the ratings go Brian Meehan's two-year-old appears to be no more than a penalty-kick, an assertion backed up by the filly's latest encouraging second placing to Archon Star at Brighton.

The Sheriff Hutton-based pilot also has as good a chance as any in the lowly Racing UK Selling Nursery, when getting the leg up on Lazzoon (2.45).

At least Lazzoom has actually caught the judges' eye, unlike most of his hapless rivals, the majority of which to be candid couldn't win an egg-and-spoon race.

To complete Darley's good day, Fruit Salad (5.25) is likely to be all the rage in the closing EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Mark Johnston will be dead keen to get a win out of Fruit Salad, a daughter of one of the fiery Scot's favourite former horses, Fruits Of Love, twice successful in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes for the all-conquering Middleham handler.

Following a frustrating spell on the sidelines during August, Paul Hanagan is now back in full swing and showing he's lost none of his old fire.

Hanagan, forced out for over a month due to a broken collarbone, is scheduled to partner Motu (2.45) in the Mac And Leni Memorial Handicap over a mile-and-half-a-furlong.

The selection proved he acts on the uphill and down dale track when third to Bailiborough over course and distance in August.

And seeing as the latter has gone on to notch two more cosy victories, the form of the contest has since been vindicated in no uncertain terms.

Add to this Motu's own recent triumph when despite being twice badly hampered he ran away with a Banded seven-furlong event at Folkestone, and we have a perfect recipe for a winning wager.

The fact that this year's Epsom Derby-winning trainer, Michael Bell, has opted to step Press Express (3.50) up in trip for the mile-and-a-half Lynda Ramsden's Early Retirement Handicap may mean curtains for the opposition.

Two starts ago Press Express got off the mark in emphatic fashion at Newcastle, an inaugural victory he so nearly supplemented when beaten by a short-head on a foray to Leicester last time out.

Press Express shapes as a typically improving middle-distance three-year-old, which combined with the mountainous nature of the home straight should suit his dogged run-style to a tee.

Punters concentrating on Sandown raider, Missed A Beat (4.10), might not go too far wrong.

After banging her head against a brick wall on unsuitably quick ground for most of the season, the rains have come to ease underfoot conditions in South London.

Missed A Beat demonstrated an aptitude for a soft surface when a close up fourth on a visit to Haydock in 2004.

It was an experience she may well put to good use in the one-mile O'Halloran O'Brien Fillies' Handicap.

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