It might be Guineas day at Newmarket tomorrow, but it is also the day when racing's roadshow moves back to Thirsk.

Last month's two-day meeting at the North Yorkshire course fell foul of the foot and mouth restrictions, but it's back to business tomorrow with the £15,000 Studford Inns Thirsk Hunt Cup taking pride of place.

The feature race could well highlight a happy homecoming for Lynda Ramsden, who has returned to her former yard at nearby Sandhutton this season after spending two years in France.

Ramsden has already had one winner this term, and Tornado Prince could well be another for her tomorrow.

A previous scorer over this course and distance, he will have the expected soft ground in his favour and also has the advantage of having had a preparatory outing this season.

A hold-up horse, who likes to be produced from off the pace, Tornado Prince is not the easiest of rides, but Shane Kelly is a pretty cool customer and the Irish-born jockey is up to the task ahead. A bold bid is anticipated from the nap selection.

In the Coxwold Handicap over seven furlongs, Supreme Salutation can provide another local success.

His trainer David Barron is based just a few miles from the course at Maunby and, furthermore, he has his horses in excellent form.

Supreme Salutation is devillishly difficult to win with, but there can be little doubt that he is perfectly capable of winning tomorrow, provided everything goes right for him and he doesn't - as he's done in the past - lose ground at the start. Dean Mernagh has the job of putting him in front when it matters.

Also worth watching out for at Thirsk are Musselburgh winner Red Eagle (2.05) and Gdansk (2.40), another recent scorer, likewise trained by Alan Berry.

The Sagitta 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket has attracted a 19-strong field and, with the trials failing to throw up anything special, the alternative solution may be to look elsewhere.

My idea of the winner is Minardi, winner of two Group 1 races last season, and trained by Aidan O'Brien, who saddled Giant's Causeway to finish second in this Classic 12 months ago.

Minardi has yet to prove his stamina over a mile, but hopes are high that he will not be found wanting inside the final furlong. Tobougg, who started his career at York last season, is unbeaten in three races, and represents a big danger to the Irish raider.

Henry Cecil, unusually without a runner in the 2,000, can still make his presence felt. The Warren Place trainer can score with Curtain Time, a winner on this course last month, in the Ruinart Champagne Conditions Stakes.

The promising Redback (.,25) and the able Fath (4.15) are two others to note at HQ.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison has good prospects of landing the major spoils at Haydock, where the £45,000 Merewood Homes Swinton Handicap Hurdle is the showpiece.

Ellison can capture the prize with the admirable Bring Sweets, a course winner, who was narrowly denied in the Scottish Champion Hurdle a fortnight ago.

Tomorrow's tips

Thirsk

2.05.......................Red Eagle

2.40............................Gdansk

3.15.................Villa Carlotta

3.45......Supreme Salutation

4.20...Tornado Prince (Nap)

4.50...................Parting Shot

5.25...................Noble Locks

Newmarket

1.50.................Curtain Time

2.25..........................Redback

3.00.................Barton Sands

3.40...........................Minardi

4.15.................................Fath

4.45......................Abbajabba

Haydock

(Televised races)

1.30...................Crazy Horse

2.00.................Bring Sweets

2.30.........................May Ball

Updated: 15:13 Friday, May 04, 2001