Racing by Tom O'Ryan

Mark Johnston who saddled two winners on Knavesmire this week, can add to his scoresheet at Thirsk tomorrow courtesy of Tiler in the Northallerton Handicap.

The six-year-old is a hard horse to win with as he often loses ground leaving the stalls. But he did everything right at Haydock last Sunday when running a blinder to be beaten less than a length into third behind Swino and First Maite.

A reproduction of that performance tomorrow will make Tiler hard to beat in the hands of Darryll Holland, the leading jockey of the campaign.

Friar Tuck gets my vote in the Easingwold Handicap over five furlongs.

Trained by Linda Perratt, who sent out 20-1 shot Ho Leng to win the opening race on Knavesmire yesterday, Friar Tuck finished an excellent second to Classy Cleo on his reapparance at Chester last week. With that outing under his belt, he can reverse the placings with the winner tomorrow.

Henry Cecil's Tracking is fancied to get back on the winning trail in the featured £12,500 Dishforth Conditions Stakes, while John Wainwright's Petara should not be left out of the reckoning in the Rothmans Royals North South Challenge Series Handicap.

Brian Rothwell's speedy juvenile Rose's Treasure, successful at Doncaster on her debut and a good second to Kastaway over this course and distance next time, can get back on top in the Carlton Miniott Novice Stakes.

Tomorrow's televised action comes from Newmarket and Newbury, where the £125,000 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes takes pride of place.

Michael Stoute, on the mark at York yesterday with Derby hope Greek Dance, can take the honours with Among Men, the mount of Michael Kinane, who enjoyed a wonderful time at the Knavesmire Festival, highlighted by his success on Saratoga Springs in Wednesday's Dante Stakes.

Among Men won four of his five starts last season (one of his victories was awarded in the stewards' room) and developed into a high-class horse.

Being a son of Zilzal, whose stock tend to improve with age, there is every chance he will be even better this term, and reports of his home-work have been most encouraging.

Recent winner Wave Rock (2.05) can oblige again, while Sausalito Bay (2.30) is another for the notebook.

At Newmarket, Jila can step up from handicap company to Listed grade by winning the Equity Financial Collections King Charles II Stakes.

Robert Armstrong's charge has won two competitive races on this course this season and looks a serious performer in the making. Richard Hills again has the mount.

Mick Easterby has his horses in tremendous form, a fact illustrated by Stuffed's win at York on Wednesday.

The Sheriff Hutton trainer, a rare visitor to Newmarket, can complete a double tomorrow courtesy of Alpine Hideaway (4.15) and my Nap selection Sandbaggedagain (5.15).

The latter, fit from jumping, drops back to seven furlongs tomorrow and is fancied to have too much speed for his rivals.

Les Eyre's Night Of Glass, winner of all his five starts this term, goes for number six in the NGK Spark Plugs Rated Handicap. Don't desert him now.

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