PHILLIP MAKIN'S mastery of pace judgement will be put to the test aboard Trance (4.10) at Thirsk this afternoon.

Getting the fractions right over the two mile trip for the Racing UK Handicap is no easy task, especially around today's circuit which features a couple of relatively tight turns.

Makin won't want the field to crawl during the first half of the contest, but equally he cannot afford to be too near the front early doors as his mount is best when held up for a late charge.

If all goes to plan and the pack sets off at a decent clip, the race could fall into the lap of Trance, who in North American parlance is a good "closer" come the end of his races.

Vastly different tactics are likely to be adopted by Adrian Nicholls, rider of Tencendur (3.35), a headstrong three-year-old who prefers to get on with the job once the stalls flash open.

After a gutsy display to win at Carlisle, Tencendur then beat all bar Spume on his latest track and trip start, an excellent effort which makes him a live contender for the Nattrass Construction Handicap.

Having began her 2007 campaign off a mark of 70, Smiddy Hill (4.45) has plunged 18lbs down the ratings as a result of some pretty dire performances.

Any signs of a revival were cruelly snuffed out by a lousy low draw at Folkestone recently, a defeat for which Robin Bastiman's filly was patently not to blame.

Thankfully the boot is on the foot for the Apprentices' Handicap seeing as Smiddy Hill emerges from stall 12, just one berth away from the favoured position against the stands' rail.

Admittedly the selection needs to bounce back to something like her old self, however she really is a winner waiting to happen off what is an extremely enticing weight.

Wide-margin two-year-old scorers are always of interest to the column, so River Ardeche's six length York victory must be taken very seriously.

Patrick Haslam's gelding wasn't particularly prominent in the betting that day, nevertheless he defied his outsider's odds by romping home in hugely impressive fashion.

There's no escaping the authority of that success achieved at a Grade 1 venue, a triumph which opens the door to maintain his unbeaten record by following up the Novice Auction Stakes.

John Quinn's Gloucester (7.35), successful in France over a mile-and-a-half last year, bids to get his head in front on this side of the English Channel by taking the Environmental Engineering Handicap.

Gloucester, who had no luck whatsoever when placed third a week ago, seems as if his turn is near - provided the gaps come.