FRANKIE Dettori, who teams-up with his Derby-winning partner Golden Horn at Longchamp on Sunday in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, makes a rare trip to Beverley today for a single mount.

The popular jockey is set to ride Afjaan in the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Maiden Stakes over an extended seven furlongs.

Trained at Newmarket by William Haggas, the three-year-old has not been seen for almost a year, having finished a promising fourth on his sole juvenile outing at his local course last October.

Afjaan has presumably had a few training issues since, but the fact that he has been persevered with, and that Dettori is venturing north to ride him, are signs that he is a likely winner on his return in what looks a very modest race.

The Arc is most certainly not a modest race. Golden Horn, who won the Dante Stakes at York in May and who sandwiched his Derby triumph, with a victory in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, has since been sensationally beaten by an outsider in the Juddmonte International back on Knavesmire, but he got back on the winning trail in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

On Sunday, he is poised to cross swords with the brilliant Treve, who is bidding to create history by winning a third Arc. Dettori lost the ride on Treve last year to Thierry Jarnet and now finds himself in opposition to her on the John Gosden-trained colt. It's a race not to be missed.

In the meantime, Dettori has the little matter of steering home a winner at Beverley, which he has not managed to do for at least five years. Indeed, he has had only two previous mounts at the course in that period. Afjaan should enable him to make it third-time-lucky.

Absolute Zero makes plenty of appeal in the opening EBF Stallions/Pony Racing Here On Sunday Maiden Stakes.

Roger Varian's juvenile finished a creditable runner-up, albeit as a beaten favourite, at Sandown on his latest start. He may be able to go one better here under Paul Mulrennan, who will be another jockey in action at Longchamp on Sunday. He will be aboard Mecca's Angel, winner of last month's Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York, in the Prix de l'Abbeye.

Graham Lee has double prospects on the Beverley card. He rides the promising Manjaam (2-30) and also the hat-trick seeking Pyla (3-35), both trained by Ed Dunlop.

North Yorkshire trainer Alan Brown may hold the key to the first division of the Brian And Jason Merrington Memorial Handicap with Poppy In The Wind.

Dale Swift's mount has finished a respectable fourth at Redcar and Carlisle on her last two start. Nicely drawn here in stall four, she is entitled to go well and carries the nap vote.

Over the sticks at Bangor, Weather Babe is selected to make it two-from-two over fences in the Malise Nicholson Novices' Chase.

David Pipe's seven-year-old got off the mark over the major obstacles with a six lengths win over Volcanic at Uttoxeter a couple of months ago. A follow-up looks on the cards.

North Yorkshire trainer Phil Kirby takes Triple Eight to the North Wales track for the Deva Racing Handicap Hurdle.

The gelding seems to like having his photograph taken. He won by a nose at Stratford on his penultimate start and has since been beaten a head at Uttoxeter. He has every chance of resuming winning ways.

Few Bangor meetings come and go without nearby trainer Donald McCain making his mark. Today's fixture offers him a good opportunity of adding to his winning tally.

McCain has solid chances with the consistent Witness In Court (4-00) and Kilronan Castle (5-05), who won an Irish point-to-point and now contests a bumper.

Today's Tips - Beverley: 2-00 Absolute Hero, 2-30 Manjaam, 3-00 Afjaan, 3-35 Pyla, 4-10 Night Generation, 4-40 Sur Empire, 5-15 Poppy In The Wind (NAP), 5-50 Lazy Sioux

Bangor: 2-20 Paddys Runner, 2-50 Weather Babe, 3-25 Triple Eight, 4-00 Witness In Court, 4-30 Native Princess, 5-05 Kilronan Castle.