A very good year can prove it is just that for him tomorrow on the opening day of Ascot's three-day September Festival.

The £30,000 Sodexho Showcase Handicap is the target for Terry Mills' talented three-year-old, who will be partnered by up-and-coming apprentice jockey Robert Miles.

A Very Good Year has struck form with a vengeance lately, following up an excellent second at Lingfield with a fluent victory at Kempton earlier this month.

The return to tomorrow's distance of six furlongs seems to have worked well for A Very Good Year, who had been tried over longer distances earlier in the season. He can show his rivals a clean pair of heels tomorrow and is awarded my Nap vote.

Itnab, winner of two of her three starts this term, can extend her sequence in the Harvest Listed Stakes.

Ben Hanbury's three-year-old was the winner of a hot handicap on this course on 'King George' day and looks capable of coping with this step-up in class. Richard Hills has the mount.

Nyramba promises to be a tough nut to crack in the hands of Frankie Dettori in the Watership Down Stud Sales Stakes.

Twice a winner already this season, John Gosden's juvenile won a Listed race at Salisbury last time, beating Dowager and Ruby Rocket, who returned to glory in decent company at Ayr last weekend.

That form looks rock-solid and Nyramba will be a popular choice in this richly-endowed race, which carries £250,000 in prize money.

The final round of the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series for gentleman amateur riders sees the James Hetherton-trained Swynford Pleasure going for her third success of the campaign.

But, while Swynford Pleasure is assured to make another bold bid, Classic Millennium, an admirably consistent performer, trained by Willie Musson, is marginally preferred with the experienced Tom Greenway on board.

At Haydock, Settrington trainer John Quinn can hit the target with Hov in the Vale UK Handicap.

The three-year-old rattled up a couple of all-weather surface successes earlier this term and has since run well in defeat on turf, despite racing on conditions quicker than ideal.

Tomorrow's good to soft ground at Haydock should be perfect for Hov to return to the winning groove.

In the Vale UK Nursery, make a note of Tregarron, trained by Richard Hannon.

The two-year-old has filled the frame four times this season without getting his head in front. However, opportunity promises to come knocking for him tomorrow in handicap company and on easier ground.

Friday's tips:

ASCOT

2.00 Classic Millennium, 2.35 Itnab, 3.10 Nyramba, 3.45 A Very Good Year (Nap), 4.20 Tizzy May, 4.55 Flowerdrum.

Haydock

1.50 Duc's Dream, 2.25 Chanterelle, 3.00 Tregarron, 3.35 The Jobber, 4.10 Claradotnet, 4.45 Hov, 5.15 Sewmore Character, 5.45 Rustic Charm.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Southwell

Updated: 12:41 Thursday, September 25, 2003