Trainer David Elsworth, still reeling from the death on Wednesday of his stable favourite Persian Punch, heads to Newmarket tomorrow with bright prospects of landing the first of the season's Classic races.

He saddles Salford City in the UltimateBet.com 2,000 Guineas.

Salford City may never have the following of Persian Punch, winner of 20 races and more than £1m in prize money in a great career which ended tragically at Ascot when died from a heart attack, but he is a colt with massive talent and unlimited potential.

Winner of his only start as a juvenile last season and bought during the winter by Michael Tabor, Salford City won the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his reapperance last month in the style of a top-notch performer.

That he is still not the finished article and lacks the raw experience of some of his rivals goes without saying. But then, nobody knows for sure just how good he is, and this could well be the stage to prove that he is very good indeed.

One Cool Cat, trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, heads the betting at around 2-1.

A top-flight juvenile last season, he comes into this race without a preparatory outing but his home-work has reportedly been nothing less than impressive, and he clearly commands plenty of respect.

That said, favourites have an abysmal record in the 2,000 Guineas and he would not, perhaps, be one to back at cramped odds.

Grey Swallow, unbeaten in three starts and trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, who won last year's 2,000 Guineas with Refuse To Bend, looks short-list material, along with Haafhd, who left his rivals for dead in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Critics point out that Haafhd had the race run to suit him that day, but there was no doubting his superiority and his trainer Barry Hills is on record as saying that he has not trained a better miler, which is a glowing compliment.

A cracking race is assured. After the sad demise of Persian Punch, surely nobody would begrudge David Elsworth a rapid turnround in fortune with Salford City.

Big-race rider Johnny Murtagh also has excellent claims on Newmarket's main supporting race, the £50,000 Victor Chandler Palace House Stakes.

He teams-up with the speedy Frizzante, an unlucky runner-up on her reappearance at the Craven meeting, and now my Nap selection to go one better.

The feature race at Thirsk is the Hygicare Thirsk Hunt Cup, in which Queens Rhapsody is the selection.

Also worth noting at Thirsk are the David Barker-trained pair Chairman Bobby (5.00), an improved performer last season, who made a promising recent reappearance, and Mr Wolf (5.35), a recent winner.

At Haydock, the £70,000 Freephone Stanleybet Swinton Hurdle takes pride of place and could be another big-race winner for dual-Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee. He partners Dalaram, a good winner at Ayr a fortnight ago.

Saturday's tip:

Newmarket

1.40 Promotion, 2.15 Frizzante (Nap), 2.55 Salford City, 3.30 Cd Flyer, 4.05 Hazyview, 4.40 Putra Sandhurst, 5.15 Prins Willem.

Thirsk

2.05 Bold Marc, 2.40 Karamea, 3.15 Night Air, 3.50 King Harson, 4.25 Queens Rhapsody, 5.00 Chairman Bobby, 5.35 Mr Wolf.

Haydock

Televised races: 1.10 Hirvine, 1.40 Dalaram, 2.10 Acomb.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Hexham, Uttoxeter and Southwell.

Updated: 13:12 Friday, April 30, 2004