It may be the second day of the York Ebor Meeting, but there are also three AW fixtures taking place on the AW on Thursday, including at Newcastle which stages Week 5 of the Racing League.

The most valuable race on the card is the £75,000 Class 2 handicap over 7f at 7.15 and with the top-weight Al Shabab Storm (who has a chance) holding an official mark of 110, that emphasises the quality of the contest. I also respect the chances of the Group 2 winner Witch Hunter and course-specialist Eldrickjones, but it’s DOSMAN who makes the greatest appeal.

A Polytrack winner for Roger Varian last summer, the gelding was returning from 281 days off when beaten a neck over this course and distance in June (off the same mark as today), after which Jamie Osborne snapped him up for 100,000gns. He was never in the race on stable debut at Yarmouth last month, but it would be no surprise if he bounced back now returned here, especially as he remains unexposed for a 4yo after just seven starts. You only fork out that sort of money if you feel you are going to get a return on your investment before too long.

There are plenty of previous course winners due to contest the 0-80 handicap over 5f at 7.45 including last year’s winner Bright, but he is 7lb higher this time around so I prefer the chances of MONKS DREAM. Tim Easterby’s gelding has gained all three wins here (including two over this trip) and has run well in two of his last three starts on turf, the other being on unsuitably soft ground. However, it’s the return to this venue that makes him so appealing and he also looks to be on a nice mark, 1lb lower than when beaten less than a length into third of 14 in a 0-100 event over course and distance in June.

The classiest contest at Lingfield is the 0-85 handicap over 1m4f at 4.20. There are only six runners due to take part, but it’s an interesting contest including three 3yos who remain open to further improvement, but despite being a 4yo FOX AVATAR is just as unexposed as them after just seven outings. A winner on turf and Polytrack, Roger Varian’s gelding didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs when beaten just 2l into fifth of 13 in a stronger event over the extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton three weeks ago. He is out of a winning sprinter, but being by Frankel the longer trip shouldn’t be an issue and it’s unlikely that this will be strongly run.

The stable can complete an across-the-card double courtesy of BLAST THE DREAM in the closing 0-75 handicap for 3yos over 1m2f (9.00) at Chelmsford. The filly finished last of three over the extended 1m at Epsom three weeks ago, but she wasn’t at all disgraced and shaped as though well worth another try at this trip (her dam won a Listed race over it). She is also back off the same mark as when making a successful handicap debut at Newcastle in February, which was her last venture on to the AW (the race has produced plenty of winners since). The addition of cheekpieces may also give her a boost. David Bellingham