DON'T underestimate North Yorkshire challenger Desert Deer in tomorrow's feature race at Royal Ascot.

The colt, trained by Mark Johnston and the mount of Sheriff Hutton-based Kevin Darley, lines up for the £250,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes and is expected to make a bold bid.

A prolific winner in lesser company last season, Desert Deer began this campaign in terrific style, winning by no less than nine lengths from Chianti in a conditions' race at Newmarket over tomorrow's distance of ten furlongs.

This Group One race is very much an acid test for Desert Deer as he takes on the likes of Banks Hill, Grandera and Nayef, but whatever they possess in proven class, he matches in potential. A cracking race looks in prospect.

Tim Easterby will bid to win his second Queen Mary Stakes in three years courtesy of On The Brink, the mount of Fergal Lynch.

Winner of two of her three starts, On The Brink overcame trouble in running at Beverley last time to gain a Listed-race success in the Hilary Needler Trophy. Although probably not as good as Romantic Myth, winner of this race in 2000 for Easterby, On The Brink is fancied to run a big race.

David Nicholls can provide another local success in the shape of Scotty's Future, who has strong claims in the £120,000 Royal Hunt Cup.

The four-year-old produced a dazzling display to lift the Victoria Cup at Ascot on his latest start and looks capable of following-up here, despite the wide-open nature of this notoriously difficult handicap.

The Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles will take some getting, but Hugs Dancer will relish every yard of the trip.

James Given's gelding made an encouraging reappearance when chasing home easy winner Sarangani at York last month and should now be primed for this race, which has been his target for some time.

Dean McKeown has the mount on nap selection Hugs Dancer, who may have most to fear from Gracilis, trained near Richmond by Alan Swinbank.

Millennium Dragon, winner of his last two races in the style of a high-class horse, looks a leading contender in the opening Jersey Stakes, while the smart Helm Bank has strong claims in the concluding Chesham Stakes.

North Yorkshire racegoers can look forward to an evening meeting at Ripon, where Inter Vision commands plenty of respect in the Middleham Novice Median Auction Stakes.

Allan Dickman's smart youngster made it third-time-lucky in some style at Chester last time when winning by two-and-a-half lengths.

He looks capable of following-up under the vastly experiend George Duffield.

The progressive Midnight Parkes has plenty to recommend him in the featured £10,000 Norman Wells Memorial Challenge Trophy Handicap, while Lion Hunter, from the stable of Barry Hills, is worth another chance in the Leyburn Maiden Stakes.

Tomorrow's tips:

Royal Ascot

2-30 Millennium Dragon, 3-05 On The Brink, 3-45 Desert Deer, 4-20 Scotty's Future, 4-55 Hugs Dancer (NAP), 5-30 Helm Bank

Ripon

7-00 Shamwari Song, 7-30 Inter Vision, 8-00 Midnight Parkes, 8-30 Weet-A-Minute, 9-00 Lion Hunter, 9-30 Bollin Edward

Updated: 15:19 Wednesday, June 18, 2003