THIS AFTERNOON'S end of the Ebor Festival for another year sees the Yorkshire racing focus shift from York to Thirsk tomorrow and the chance for mother-to-be Mary Jane to add another win to her scoresheet before she is retired to the paddocks.

In-foal to former North Yorkshire racing hero Sugarfoot, Mary Jane goes for the Great Apprentice Fillies' Handicap, which she won a year ago.

Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler's charge has been running consistently well in defeat all summer and was a creditable fourth to Kings College Boy at Nottingham last time after an uncharacteristically tardy start.

Talented young apprentice Patrick Mathers takes the mount on Mary Jane tomorrow and I expect him to enjoy a good ride on the eight-year-old, who has precious little time left on the racecourse.

My Nap vote is awarded to Zingari in the Bridlington Classified Stakes.

Sir Mark Prescott's three-year-old, who has had onl,y one previous race this season, was a winner on her comeback at Ayr last month. This looks a perfect opportunity for her to double her score in the hands of Jamie Mackay.

The two miles Wiske Handicap looks a good opportunity for Our Monogram to return to the winning groove.

Twice successful earlier this season, the seven-year-old will be partnered by Fergal Lynch, who knows him well.

At Newmarket, Somnus makes plenty of appeal in the £32,000 Hopeful Stakes.

Tim Easterby's high-class sprinter was unluckily denied a hat-trick of wins at Ascot's recent Shergar Cup meeting when he was denied a clear run on the rails and forced to switch.

The manouvre saw Somnus finally in the clear and he finished like the proverbial express train, but alas it was all too late, and he had to settle for fourth place.

I expect compensation to come his way tomorrow when he will be reunited with Ted Durcan, who forged a great relationship with him last season, but who, through, injury, has been confined to only one (unplaced) ride on him this year.

Inglis Drever, who failed to make the cut in yesterday's Tote-Ebor Handicap, bids instead for the Breheny Handicap and should make this £14,000 event his own.

Sir Mark Prescott's four-year-old, winner of two of his three starts this season, is still progressing and this stamina test should suit suit him down to the ground.

The concluding race, the Ronald Albert Fitzgerald Handicap, sees Cerulean Rose bidding to extend her winning sequence.

Tony Carroll's four-year-old has been in sparkling form since opening her account at Doncaster last month and is now chasing a five-timer. It will take a good one to deny her.

Tomorrow's tips:

Thirsk

2.20 Flying Bantam, 2.50 Futoo, 3.25 Dry Wit, 3.55 Zingari (Nap) 4.30 Our Monogram, 5.05 Mary Jane.

Newmarket

2.10 Grandalea, 2.40 Sussex, 3.15 Inglis Drever, 3.45 Somnus, 4.20 Nahane, 4.55 Cerulean Rose.

Newcastle

5.40 Simons Wood, 6.10 Countrywide Flyer, 6.40 Compton Drake, 7.10 Dark Empress, 7.40 Chatifa, 8.10 Telori.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Bath (evening, Flat) and Fontwell (afternoon, National Hunt).

Updated: 12:27 Thursday, August 21, 2003