AFTER the final day of York's Ebor Festival meeting today, the focus for racing enthusiasts in Yorkshire switches tomorrow to Thirsk.

Tim Easterby, without a winner during the first two days of action at York, can succeed at Thirsk with Timing in the Racing Post Handicap over two miles.

The mount of smart apprentice David Allan, Timing is on a recovery mission, having failed to justify favouritism in a two-miler at Beverley last week.

The three-year-old, who had previously won over the same course and distance finished second to Clarinch Claymore, beaten only a length after being forced to switch to make a challenge inside the final furlong.

Timing, who would have been better suited that day with a stronger all-round pace, deserves the chance to make amends.

The Tom Lynch 'Lifetime In Racing' Apprentice Fillies' Handicap, is named in honour of a well-known racing man, who was Mick Easterby's head-lad for some 30 years.

Although now retired, Lynch still potters around the Sheriff Hutton yard, doing odd jobs and lending his invaluable experience when required.

This five-furlongs dash should suit the Tim Etherington-trained Lydia's Look, a previous winner on the course.

Although without a success this season, Lydia's Look has run well enough to suggest that she is up to scoring again. She will have the services of Sam Hitchcott, who is apprenticed to Mick Easterby.

The European Breeders' Fund Classified Stakes could be another opportunity for recent winner Sarraaf, while interesting newcomer Meilland will surely attract plenty of support in the EBF Betfair.com Maiden Stakes. Jamie Spencer has the mount David Loder's juvenile.

At Newmarket, my Nap vote is awarded to Cranshaws in the Saxham Nursery over a mile.

Sir Mark Prescott's juvenile, a winner at Beverley, returned to that course last week to bid for an encore, but had to settle for third-place behind Sweet Return and Whittle Warrior.

Cranshaws, who was not well drawn, was finishing best of all and looks as if he will be ideally suited by Newmarket's more galloping course

Henry Cecil's Sharpcut is fancied to complete a hat-trick of wins by taking the Breheny Showcase Handicap over one mile and seven furlongs. This longer distance will be new territory for Richard Quinn's mount, but staying appears to be his forte.

Tomorrow's tips:

Thirsk

2.10 Meilland

2.40 Sigwells Club Boy

3.10 Compton Emerald

3.40 Sarraaf

4.15 Timing

4.45 Lydia's Look

Newmarket

2.00 Shell Garland

2.30 Almushahar

3.00 Cranshaws (Nap)

3.30 Mugharreb

4.05 Sharpcut

4.35 Weet A Round

5.10 Branston Tiger

Updated: 12:03 Friday, August 23, 2002