Thirsk kicks back into life tomorrow for the start of its opening two-day meeting, highlighted by Saturday's Classic Trial.

Quantity, rather than quality, is the order of the day tomorrow, however, with big fields and plenty of horses seeking their first wins.

Gay Breeze does not fit either of those categories. Not only does he have only a handful of opponents in the Hambleton Classified Stakes, but he is an prolific winner, having proved himself an able sprinter last season.

Paul Felgate's charge found the handicapper catching up with him in the end, but there is every chance he will enjoy another successful campaign this year, judged on his splendid effort on his reappearance at Newcastle last month when he finished a close sixth to Tom Tun from a poor draw.

Likely to have benefited from that outing, Gay Breeze can show his rivals a clean pair of heels under smart apprentice Neil Callan.

The Woodcock promises to be another winner for Callan in the Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk Handicap - one of three races on this programme being sponsored by Tony Fawcett's Studford Leisure company.

Trained by Karl Burke, The Woodcock was purchased for 6,200 guineas after winning a selling race for Barry Hills at Catterick last month.

Jack Berry has made a satisfactory start to the new season and the Cockerham trainer can land the Feathers Hotel, Helmsley Novice Fillies Stakes with La Caprice, the mount of Kevin Darley who is reputed to have been making a good impression on the home gallops.

Carroll also has good prospects on Miss Grapette, a debut winner at Catterick for Jack Berry, who feels this speedy three-year-old can go on to better things. The Levy Board Fillies' Handicap may fit the bill.

Tomorrow's televised action comes from Newbury, where the £30,000 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes acts as a traditional stepping stone to fillies with 1,000 Guineas entries.

This race looks something of a minefield to solve, but John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have been in such cracking form at Newmarket this week that their representative, Choirgirl, a useful juvenile last term, could well hit the right note.

John Dunlop is always a trainer to have on your side, especially at this time of year, and the Arundel trainer, strongly represented by Sakha in the feature race, has excellent prospects of a double-strike with Chelsea Barracks (2.40) and nap selection Pairumani Star (5.10).

Chelsea Barracks, a winner at Doncaster last autumn, is a colt with bags of potential, while Pairumani Star, a triple-winner last season, will relish the step up to two miles in the Levy Board Seventh Handicap.

Mick Channon has made a belting start to the season and the Lambourn handler can continue adding to his scoresheet on his local course.

Cd Flyer (2.10) is reputed to be able to go a bit while Levelled (3.40) looks capable of defying a 3lb picked-up when winning at Ripon last week.

Tomorrow's tips

THIRSK

Get Stuck In

La Caprice

Gay Breeze

Colonial State

The Woodcock

Lunch Party

Bollin Rita

Miss Grapette

NEWBURY

Cd Flyer

Chelsea Barracks

Choirgirl

Levelled

Bondosan

Apple Of Kent

5.10 Pairumani Star (NAP)

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.