Day two of the St Leger Festival tomorrow will be an excellent opportunity for Mark Johnston to revive fond memories in the feature race.

The Middleham trainer saddles Zindabad in the GNER Doncaster Cup and has a great chance of winning a race he landed three times with his top-notch stayer Double Trigger, whose statue now occupies a prominent place near the winners' enclosure.

Zindabad, who will have Sheriff Hutton jockey Kevin Darley in the saddle, is still seeking his first win of the campaign, but his latest performance, at York last month, suggested that his turn was near.

Stepping-up to two miles for the first time in the Lonsdale Stakes, the seven-year-old finished third to Bollin Eric, one place in front of Persian Punch, who takes him on again tomorrow.

Johnston can also win the Betdaq May Hill Stakes with my Nap selection Caracara, the mount of Joe Fanning.

A fluent winner of a modest maiden race at Beverley last time, Caracara could hardly have scored with more authority. She takes a giant step-up in class tomorrow but could well prove up to the task.

Less of A Mystery provides Johnston with another winning chance in the Ralph Raper Memorial Prince of Wales Nursery Handicap.

Although yet to get his head in front, Less of A Mystery has finished in the frame in all his three starts. In his first handicap tomorrow, the youngster makes plenty of appeal.

The GNER Park Stakes looks a great opportunity for Trade Fair to get back on song.

This classy colt failed to last home over a mile on soft ground in Group 1 company at Goodwood last time. Tomorrow's return to seven furlongs and less formidable opposition should be just the ticket. Kieren Fallon has the mount.

John Balding, based at Scrooby, near Bawtry, only a short distance from the course, has good prospects of landing the Scarbrough Stakes with Absent Friends.

This five-furlongs dash, sponsored by Help A Hallam Child, offers Absent Friends the opportunity to show that his recent defeat of Dubaian Gift, on unfavourable terms, at Nottingham was no fluke.

A course and distance winner, Absent Friends can make a bold bid in the hands of Jason Edmunds, the trainer's son-in-law.

Tantina, unbeaten this season, can extend her winning sequence to four in the JRA London Office's Kyoto Stakes over seven furlongs.

Unraced last year as a juvenile, Tantina, trained by Barry Hills, has made good progress this term. The best of her may be still to come.

Alan Dickman, who recently moved from York to a yard near Thirsk, has his horses in good form and his Inter Vision makes plenty of appeal in the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons Ladies' Day Handicap.

A decisive winner at Ripon two outings ago, Inter Vision then finished a creditable second from a poor draw at Chester, both times over six furlongs. He should relish the step-up to seven furlongs here.

Thursday's tips:

DONCASTER

1.45 Caracara (Nap), 2.20 Trade Fair, 2.55 Zindabad, 3.30 Less of A Mystery, 4.00 Tantina, 4.30 Absent Friends, 5.00 Inter Vision.

EPSOM

2.00 Makfool, 2.35 Pay The Silver, 3.10 Vanderlin, 3.40 Joint Destiny, 4.10 Gryngolette, 4.40 Its Ecco Boy.

CHEPSTOW

2.10 Muhaymin, 2.45 Looks The Business, 3.20 Consignia, 3.50 Condoleezza, 4.20 Freeloader, 4.50 Sunset King, 5.20 Bonny Ruan.

Updated: 12:47 Wednesday, September 10, 2003