Heroic Blue, a beaten favourite on his debut at Newmarket last month, can recover his losses at Thirsk tomorrow.

The colt, trained by Jeremy Noseda, lines-up for the Army Benevolent Fund Maiden Stakes over six furlongs and is strongly fancied to score.

It is a measure of Heroic Blue's tall home reputation that he was sent off the 5-4 favourite at Newmarket. He showed signs of inexperience that day, however, and, after getting behind in the early stages, picked up well in the closing stages to finish a close third to Lionhearted.

Sure to be all the better for that outing, Heroic Blue has less on his plate tomorrow. Highly regarded in Noseda's Newmarket yard, he will be a tough nut to crack under Gary Cater.

A loud cheer will go up if Star Rage can clinch the Helmsley Handicap.

The evergreen nine-year-old, successful at Beverley last weekend, has 23 wins on the board, on the Flat and over hurdles, and needs just one more to equal Branston Abby, who raced in the same colours of owner David Abell.

Jason Weaver has the mount on Star Rage, who looks sure to make a bold bid.In the Kilburn Handicap over five furlongs, Maladerie is worth more than a passing look.

Michael Dod's sprinter has slipped to a fair mark in the handicap and can be excused his recent unplaced effort at Beverley, where he was poorly drawn on ground he hates.

He is fancied to go very well tomorrow.

Even with top weight of 10st 1lb, Tom Tun should take all the beating in the Dick Peacock Spring Handicap.

Julie Craze's smart sprinter, a winner at Newcastle on his return to turf from sand in April, was unlucky on this course next time, but has since gained compensation in fine style at Doncaster. Still on the upgrade, Tom Tun can oblige again.

Newbury's televised action is highlighted by the Sun Life Of Canada Fillies' Trial, a £20,000 Listed event for three-year-olds.

Jibe, a disappointment on Knavesmire yesterday, took this event 12 months ago and her trainer Henry Cecil can produce an encore courtesy of Samoa the mount of Kieren Fallon.

This useful prospect turned in a solid effort at Sandown on her debut last month to win by two and half lengths from Tricolore and looks capable of further improvement.

The £10,000 Ladbroke Showcase Handicap is a wide-open event, but one not to underestimate at a fair price is Lancer from the Jeff Pearce stable.

The seven-year-old should now be approaching his peak after three outings this season, and he was far from disgraced at Newmarket last time when fifth to Blueprint in an even better race than this. Useful apprentice Tony Polli has the mount and the nap vote is ambitiously awarded.

Newmarket debut winner Dandy Night (2.10) is fancies to follow up in the opener, while Vision Of Night (2.40) can give Pat Eddery a welcome winner on his first day back after suspension, which cost him the chance to perform at York this week.

Sugarfoot enjoys sweet York victory

Look out for Sugarfoot at Royal Ascot.

He showed that his admirable qualities remain intact at York - and in the process earned himself a trip to the biggest meeting of the season next month.

The five-year-old maintained great consistency throughout last season and kept up the good work with a spirited display in the Grosvenor Casinos Hambleton Rated Handicap.

Once he got to the front he was not going to be denied, keeping on powerfully with Michael Kinane's assistance to hold off Stanott by half a length.

"He''s a proper machine and it's just great to win a race again at York," said Malton-based trainer Nigel Tinkler.

"He has to be one of the best I've had and I could do with more like him," he said.

"I told Mick to try to come up middle as that's the best place to be - I was surprised they didn't do that in the Dante.

"We have had a number of offers for this horse over the years and I'm delighted that we've kept him.

"He'll be aimed for the Royal Hunt Cup and it would be nice to think that he could win a Group race as he could then become a stallion."

Royal Ascot is also on the agenda for Lincoln Dancer - his likely target is the Coventry Stakes - after a convincing defeat of Pipadash in the Grosvenor Casinos Manchester Conditions Stakes.

Bookmakers enjoyed by the far better of the exchanges on the second day of the York meeting and their cause was helped further as 20-1 shot Swift obliged in the concluding Grosvenor Casino Leeds Handicap.

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