LADY JANE DIGBY (3.45) has both the size and scope to impose her authority in Doncaster's Group 2 May Hill Stakes.
Mark Johnston's strapping two-year-old was working like a star during the spring but, not wanting to press too many buttons too soon, the trainer adopted a patient approach.
It's a policy which carries an element of risk as training setbacks are never far away, however waiting tactics were vindicated when Lady Jane Digby romped to victory on her belated debut.
Although the aforementioned success was achieved over a furlong shorter, the step up to one mile should be in the selection's favour.
Another high-profile individual from our region, Turbo Linn (3.10), could help make it a great day for North Yorkshire-based horses by winning the preceding Park Hill Stakes.
The astonishing four-year-old is defending an eight-race unbeaten record, the first of which was in far more humble circumstances when skating home in a Carlisle bumper.
Turbo Linn pocketed a pitiful £1,713 for that inaugural triumph, a far cry from the £56,780 she'll bank if, as expected, Alan Swinbank's raider makes it a cool nine-from-nine.
"We've given Turbo Linn a break and its done her good - she's put on seven kilos of muscle," revealed Swinbank, who has booked the trusty Neil Callan to take the reins.
You simply can't knock Classic form and nothing achieved by any of the other contestants for the Listed Sceptre Stakes can match Rahiyah's (4.20) French 1,000 Guineas third.
Jeremy Noseda's three-year-old has failed to fire on two subsequent outings but if my Newmarket contacts are correct she's back to somewhere near her best.
Sprinters housed in David Nicholls' yard tend to be busy, therefore the fact Joseph Henry (5.30) has only run twice this term suggests there's been trouble at mill.
Clearly the lightly-raced five-year-old needs to make up for lost time to pay his keep, which makes a win in the Miller Homes Handicap all the more crucial.
As far as form is concerned, Joseph Henry's Glorious Goodwood second shows he's got the talent, something the bookies will bear in mind when pricing him up for the nightcap
Away from the St Leger meeting, Thousand Words (3.25) might well turn out to be different gear to his rivals in Sandown's Listed Fortune Stakes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article