The Thirsk Hunt Cup can hardly compare in value to the 2,000 Guineas, but the historic race, annually run on the first Saturday in May, remains a keenly-contested race in North Yorkshire and Wind Star is fancied to emerge with the spoils tomorrow.

The £18,000 totsport-sponsored handicap looks an achieveable target for Wind Star, trained near Richmond by Alan Swinbank and the mount of Dean McKeown.

A progressive handicapper last season, Wind Star began this term with a good third to Robustian at Pontefract. That race is expected to have teed him up nicely for tomorrow when his main danger may come from Luca Cumani's Minority Report, winner of last year's Thirsk Hunt Cup.

Tim Easterby has a good following at his local course and the Great Habton trainer has gold chances tomorrow with the promising Bernix (2.25), Malcheek (3.35), who has shown a liking for this track in the past, and the speedy Billy Ruffian (5.15).

Highland Warrior (4.40) has a habit of giving away ground at the start, but if the gelding gets away on terms in the five-furlong handicap, he has every chance of continuing Westow trainer Paul Midgley's good run of form.