THERE is plenty of good racing to look forward to at York tomorrow and also at Newbury, where a horse who shone on Knavesmire last month is poised to take centre-stage in Britain's most prestigious all-aged middle-distance race.

Azamour, trained in Ireland by John Oxx, bids to follow-up his Royal Ascot win at York in the £650,000 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, a race transferred to Newbury during Ascot's multi-million pound refurbishment.

A top-notch campaigner, Azamour resumed winning ways in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes on his latest start, digging deep in the closing stages to master Ace, who takes him on again tomorrow.

There is an obvious concern that Azamour, tackling a mile-and-a-half for the first time tomorrow, will fall short of the stamina required, but his style of racing and the way he won over an extended ten furlongs at York last month, suggests to me that he can conquer this unproven territory.

Grey Swallow, also trained in Ireland, may be his biggest danger. Dermot Weld's colt won last year's Irish Derby and has had this race on his agenda since making a successful reappearance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May.

With talented French raider Bago also in the line-up, along with the unbeaten Eswarah, winner of the Vodafone Oaks, and the only three-year-old in the field, a cracking race is in prospect. The classy Azamour is my idea of the winner.

The feature race on Knavesmire tomorrow is the £50,000 Skybet Dash over six furlongs and Beckermet ought to give his backers a good run for their money.

Roger Fisher's tough three-year-old won at Newbury last Saturday, a success which came close on the heels of some splendid placed efforts, which included the Wokingham Handicap on this course at Royal Ascot.

Tim Easterby has an improving horse in Malcheek, who is fancied to land the Skybet Interactive Betting On Channel Four Handicap. Twice a winner at Thirsk from his two starts this season, Malcheek has every chance of completing a hat-trick.

Also worth noting at York are the Mick Easterby-trained Strong Hand (1.55), who has excelled herself this season, plus a trio of horses from the in-form Malton stable of Richard Fahey - the promising Cape Gold (4.00), the determined Danelor (4.35) and Sualda (5.05), a course-and-distance winner.

At Newcastle, Nap selection Ouninpohja should not be overlooked in the Gallovidian Fresh Foods 10th Anniversary Classified Stakes. After two unlucky defeats, Alan Swinbank's charge deservedly got his head in front at Doncaster last time.

Saturday tips:

York

1.55 Strong Hand, 2.25 City For Conquest, 2.55 Beckermet, 3.25 Malcheek, 4.00 Cape Gold, 4.35 Danelor, 5.05 Sualda.

Newbury

2.05 Deputy Consort, 2.35 Solo Flight, 3.10 La Chunga, 3.45 Polar Magic, 4.20 Azamour, 4.55 Master Robbie, 5.25 Hambleden.

Newcastle

1.00 Sierra Vista, 1.35 Myrtle Bay, 2.10 Playful Dane, 2.45 The Old Soldier, 3.15 Les Arcs, 3.50 Ouninpohja (Nap).

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Lingfield, Nottingham and Salisbury.

Updated: 12:10 Friday, July 22, 2005