STAND by for the next star Attraction at Beverley tomorrow evening.

Twelve months ago, the Hilary Needler Trophy was won by the Mark Johnston-trained Attraction en route to landing the Queen Mary Stakes, the Cherry Hinton and, this year, her history-making English-Irish 1,000 Guineas double.

For another filly of Attraction's calibre to emerge from Beverley's long-standing Listed race may be asking the impossible, but Nick Littmoden has every reason to be hopeful of his chances of glory with Salsa Brava.

The Newmarket trainer bought this youngster at Doncaster's 'Breeze-Up' Sales in April and got a quick return when she made a winning debut at Windsor a couple of weeks ago, landing some hefty bets in the process.

Littmoden won yesterday's Listed race at Sandown with Polly Perkins, another of his Doncaster Sales purchases.

Salsa Brava could well provide him with a notable double, probably at the main expense of Tim Easterby's pair, Elsie Hart and Miss Meggy, and the speedy Musselburgh winner Mary Read, trained by Bryan Smart.

Mark Johnston won the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy a year ago with Great Scott, and I fancy the Middleham trainer to triumph tomorrow with Joseph Henry.

Joe Fanning's mount has won both his races, at Musselburgh and Nottingham, in the style of a smart juvenile and it will take a speedy colt to overhaul him.

Many of the jockeys riding at Beverley in the evening, will be in action at Newcastle in the afternoon, among them Kevin Darley, who will be on Percussionist in Saturday's Vodafone Derby.

The Sheriff Hutton rider can get on the Newcastle scoresheet aboard the promising Ma Yahab, trained by Luca Cumani, who looks capable of winning the nitex.co.uk Handicap.

Mick Easterby, who won yesterday's Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar with Blue Spinnaker, can continue in good form with Top Dirham in the Gosforth Decorating & Building Services Handicap.

Two good efforts in defeat this season, both on unsuitably softish ground, herald the chances of Top Dirham, who will have conditions to his liking this time. With the in-form Dale Gibson in the saddle, he is awarded my Nap vote.

Highland Warrior is selected to get back in the winning groove in the Betfred Sprint Series Handicap (Qualifier).

Jim Goldie's five-year-old is nothing if not consistent and was a winner at Ayr two outings ago. Running over his best distance of six furlongs tomorrow, on a course which suits him, Highland Warrior should come out of top.

Recent winners Dizzy In The Head (4.00) and Prairie Sun (5.00) are also worth considering.

Vodafone Derby favourite Yeats is having daily physiotherapy on a muscle problem ahead of Saturday's big race.

Yeats, winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes, was reported to be stiff by trainer Aidan O'Brien after working at Ballydoyle on May 21.

Yeats is 11-4 joint favourite with Snow Ridge with William Hill and totesport.

Wednesday's tips:

Beverley

6.35 Dunlea Dancer, 7.05 Salsa Brava, 7.35 Poppys Footprint, 8.10 Joseph Henry, 8.40 Athollbrose, 9.10 Lorien Hill.

Newcastle

2.30 Council Member, 3.00 Top Dirham (Nap), 3.30 Highland Warrior, 4.00 Dizzy In The Head, 4.30 Ma Yahab, 5.00 Prairie Sun.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Kempton (evening), Nottingham and Yarmouth.

Updated: 12:36 Tuesday, June 01, 2004