JOHANNES, a beaten favourite at York last week, makes a return visit to Knavesmire tomorrow and is fancied to gain handsome consolation in the £44,000 sportingbet.com Sprint Handicap.

The eight-year-old, trained by York’s leading trainer Richard Fahey, finished eighth on his latest outing, but he had excuses in that he missed the break and then met trouble in running before staying on strongly in the final furlong.

Lee Topliss, who is tremendous value for his 5lb allowance, takes the mount on Johannes tomorrow and, given better luck this time, a bold bid is promised in a hugely competitive race.

Fahey has fancied runners virtually throughout the card, and can also win the opening sportingbet.com Claiming Stakes with the dropped-in-class Halla San, also the mount of Topliss, while Common Touch also has strong prospects for the same trainer and jockey in the sportingbet.com Handicap.

The three-year-old carries the colours of York Racecourse chairman Nicholas Wrigley and, fittingly, has gained both his career successes on this course. The latest of those wins came last week over this distance of seven furlongs when he beat stable-mate Chiswick Bey.

Topliss’s apprentice allowance will come in handy on Common Touch as he bids to follow up off his revised mark.

In the £35,000 Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup, Times Up is fancied to take his revenge on Fahey’s Cracking Lass.

The John Dunlop-trained selection ran below expectations when only fourth to Cracking Lass at Doncaster’s opening meeting, but has since gone on to win narrowly in strong company at Newmarket. Cracking Lass hasn’t been standing still either and was a good second in Listed company at Hamilton last week, but she may have to settle for runner-up honours again.

Awzaan was tipped to win last year’s 2,000 Guineas for Mark Johnston, but came up short and went through the season without getting his head in front after enjoying an excellent juvenile campaign.

The four-year-old has the chance of getting his career back on track in the sportingbet.com Conditions Stakes.

At Haydock, all eyes will be on Overdose, trained in Hungary and nicknamed the ‘Budapest Bullet’, who runs in the featured £80,000 betfred.com Temple Stakes.

Beaten only once in 16 career starts, Overdose is clearly a hugely talented sprinter, though whether he is head and shoulders over some of our best speed merchants – as the betting market suggests – is debatable.

Overdose may well win, but a better betting proposition – each-way – could be Robin Bastiman’s ace gelding Borderlescott, who will be all the better for his fifth-placed effort at Newmarket on his reappearance.

The John Quinn-trained New Planet, winner of two of his three starts last season, is also worthy of serious attention.

Polar Kite, a Ripon winner on his comeback, has strong claims on the £60,000 Betfred Silver Bowl for Paul Hanagan and Richard Fahey, while the nap vote is awarded to Midnight Martini, trained by Tim Easterby, who is expected to take plenty of beating in the Betfred The Bonus King Stakes, following a fine effort to finish a close-up fifth at York last week.

Racing selections

York (tomorrow)

2.05 Halla San, 2.35 Awzaan, 3.10 Times Up, 3.40 Johannes, 4.15 Brocklebank, 4.50 Common Touch, 5.25 Jeer.

Haydock (tomorrow)

2.00 Whiplash Willie, 2.30 Polar Kite, 3.00 Borderlescott, 3.30 Midnight Martini (NAP), 4.05 Indian Trail, 4.40 Tariq Too, 5.15 Fibs And Flannel.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Chester, Goodwood, Lingfield, Newbury.

Today’s meetings

Bath, Catterick, Haydock, Musselburgh, Towcester, Yarmouth.