MALTON apprentice Shelley Birkett, who returned to action earlier this week after spending the last couple of months on the sidelines with a broken shin, can resume winning ways at Haydock this afternoon.

Birkett teams up with STEEL TRAIN, on whom she scored a 20-1 triumph at Thirsk in May, in the Betfred 'Text IJF To 78000 To Donate' Handicap.

Trained by David O'Meara, whom Birkett joined in March, Steel Train returned to Thirsk last month and finished a good second to course specialist Comino, staying on all the way to the line, to be beaten by less than a length.

O'Meara also runs Alejando and Zacynthus, who both have chances in this seven-furlong race, but Steel Train may be the one to be on as he bids to kick-start Birkett's career back into top gear.

GRAMERCY is fancied to come out on top for Richard Fahey and David Nolan in the Betfred 'Please Donate To Injured Jockeys Fund' Handicap.

The gelding, a previous course-and-distance winner, finished third to stablemate Ballesteros at Chester last time over an extended five furlongs. This slightly longer distance will suit him.

Fahey's Evangelical shaped promisingly on this course on her debut last month to finish fourth and deserves attention in the Betfred Welcome Jack Berry House Day Maiden Fillies' Stakes (division two). Preference, however, is for JADAAYIL, the mount of Paul Hanagan.

Sent off favourite on her debut at Newbury three weeks ago, Jadaayil went down narrowly to Czabo, but showed plenty of potential. She looks a useful prospect in the making and is fancied to break her maiden here.

Also worth noting at Haydock are the promising SOTERIA (2.00), another Hanagan mount, Fahey's consistent MODERNISM (4.40), a creditable fifth at York's Ebor Festival, and John Quinn's HUBERTAS (5.10) who went down by only a short head to Tapis Libre at Catterick three weeks ago.

At Ascot, the £30,000 Stella Artois Handicap takes pride of place and is the target for BIRDMAN, who has been an outstanding success story for David O'Meara this season.

The gelding has won no fewer than five races and has soared up the ratings. A creditable third to stablemate Mondialiste in Listed company at Pontefract on his penultimate start, Birdman finished seventh, after being hampered, in a big field of handicappers at York's Ebor Festival last time.

It may well be that Birdman has now levelled off, having now been handicapped to the peak of his powers. He may, though, be worth one more chance in this race, which is the preferred option for me with only seven rivals.

RICHARD OF YORK is napped to return to winning ways in the Mitie Events & Leisure Handicap.

Trained by Luca Cumani and unraced last season, Richard Of York made a winning debut at Windsor and has since filled the frame in both his starts in handicap company. He is entitled to go well in the hands of Jamie Spencer.

ART ECHO performed with promise on his debut at Salisbury last month to chase home the useful Bobby Wheeler.

Jonny Portman's juvenile should be all the better with that run under his belt and looks sure to be involved in the firing line in the Town & Country Maiden Auction Stakes.

Also worthy of attention are the hat-trick CAPE XENIA (2.40), trained by Henry Candy, whose string in in good form, and OBSDIAN (4.55), who has been in good form lately and who lost no caste in defeat when a close-up third at Ripon on his latest start.

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Today's tips

Haydock: 1.30 Peru, 2.00 Soteria, 2.30 Jadaayil, 3.00 Gramercy, 3.35 Noble Asset, 4.10 Steel Train, 4.40 Modernism, 5.10 Hubertas

Ascot: 2.10 Art Echo, 2.40 Cape Xenia, 3.10 Mediation, 3.45 Richard Of York (NAP), 4.20 Birdman, 4.55 Obsidian