RYEDALE trainer Andy Turnell misses Thirsk's meeting tomorrow in favour of a trip to Newbury, where his stable-star makes his long-awaited comeback.

Jelani, who finished fourth in the Epsom Derby two seasons ago, subsequently suffered a major leg problem which caused him not only to miss the 2002 St Leger but also the whole of last season.

A winner at Haydock as a three-year-old and also fifth in the Dante Stakes at York, Jelani is a class-act. But it would be asking a lot to expect him to win tomorrow's Group 3 Dubai Irish Village Stakes after such a lengthy absence.

All eyes from Turnell's Norton camp will be on him, however, hoping for a good run.

A more obvious looking winner on this occasion is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Gamut, a horse who showed high-class form last season with the promise of even more to come this year.

The Newbury card is highlighted by two Guineas' trials - the Dubai Duty Free Stakes for fillies and the Lane's End Greenham Stakes for the colts.

Phantom Wind, who goes for the former, did not achieve as much as some of her rivals as a juvenile, but jockey Richard Hughes, in particular, has high hopes that she will take high rank this year.

A maiden-race winner at Newmarket last backend, she has potential in abundance and should not be underestimated.

In the Greenham, Dewhurst winner Milk It Mick has the advantage of a previous race this season, but Jamie Osborne's charge may have to play second-fiddle to Salford City, winner of his only race as a two-year-old and a colt held in high esteem by trainer David Elsworth.

Up at Ayr, the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National takes pride of place. Worth £120,000 and with a maximum 30-strong field, a competitive race is assured.

Simply Supreme, a facile winner at Aintree last time, looks a 'blot' on the handicap with only a 5lb penalty.

But Sue Smith's gelding, the ante-post favourite, is unproven over this extreme distance, prefers softer ground and is prone to the occasional jumping mistake. Enough negatives to look elsewhere for the winner.

My vote goes to Desailly, who has run three fine races in defeat since scoring at Newbury on his reappearance. Lightly-raced, and at the right end of the handicap, he should run a big race.

Irish Grand National winner Granit d'Estruval will, after all, attempt a famous double in the Scottish equivalent at Ayr.

After the Irish triumph at at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, West Witton, near Leyburn, trainer Ferdy Murphy said it was unlikely that Granit d'Eestruval would run at Ayr.

But Murphy has decided to let him run, saying: "He's well and you aren't going to win anything staying at home. Why not strike while the iron is hot?"

At Thirsk, the Michael Foster Memorial Conditions Stakes has brought together a useful field of sprinters.

The pick of them promises to be Chookie Heiton, who looked just in need of the outing, when running a cracking race on his reappearance in a Listed race at Doncaster last month. He is awarded my Nap vote.

Saturday's tips:

Newbury

1.40 Gamut, 2.15 St Petersburg, 2.45 Heir To Be, 3.15 Phantom Wind, 3.45 Salford City, 4.20 Best Be Going, 4.55 Saharan Song.

Thirsk

2.30 Little Biscuit, 3.00 Selective, 3.30 Captain Clipper, 4.05 Chookie Heiton (Nap), 4.35 Buy On The Red, 5.10 Johnny Parkes.

Ayr

2.00 Thisthatandtother, 2.40 Desailly, 3.10 Westender, 3.40 Mister Arjay, 4.10 Log On Intersky, 4.45 Idiome, 5.20 Wild Cane Ridge, 5.50 Marlborough Sound.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Bangor, Nottingham and Wolverhampton.

Updated: 12:13 Friday, April 16, 2004