This morning is a crucial one with many trainers having their last serious gallop before Royal Ascot, which begins on Tuesday.

I think it could be a fine week for the northern raiders, especially the Yorkshire-trained two-year-olds, who I firmly believe are the strongest I seen for a while and hopefully plenty of the prize money can come back up here next week.

After the serious gallops have taken place this morning, trainers and jockeys will be heading to the Knavesmire to join the racegoers at York, where there is a cracking seven race card.

The feature race, the Bond Tyres Trophy Stakes at 3.15pm, is widely regarded as the best three-year-old sprint handicap of the year and local trainer Richard Fahey is obviously keen to win the valuable prize as he saddles four runners.

Although last year's Royal Ascot winner Marine Commando is respected, it looks like the stable number one chance lies with Majestic Myles who was a winner at Newmarket a fortnight ago.

The reason that is champion jockey and Fahey stable jockey Paul Hanagan has opted to ride him out of the quartet but the handicapper didn't miss the race either, raising him seven pounds in the weights for a small margin win, and for that reason I'm going to oppose him with the second home at Newmarket, Desert Law. Trained by Andrew Balding, Desert Law has only had four career starts and could still be open to plenty of improvement.

Drawn in stall six, which should be fine, Desert Law could well be the one to side with in a ultra competitive line-up.

On a hard day for punters, there are plenty of big field handicaps as well and the Ladbrokes Handicap at 2.40pm is as tough as they come.

The good side of having a 17 runner handicap is each-way betting one to four and one horse that should be on the premises is Charlie Cool.

Trained by the bang inform Ruth Carr, the eight-year-old caught the eye when staying on well last time out at Haydock and is down to his last winning mark.

Robert Winston, who knows the gelding better than most, takes the ride and should give punters a run for their money at a nice price.

Hexham also race this afternoon and Dance For Juile, who was so, so unlucky last time, can take the handicap hurdle at 4.15pm.

The four-year-old was clear at Sedgefield when blundering and unseating her jockey Barry Keniry at the final flight but that appeared a one-off blunder and she can make amends this afternoon.

Trained in Middleham by Ben Haslam, who has been among the winners this week, she might not be a great price but a winner is a winner, hopefully!