NORTH Yorkshire trainer Mark Johnston, who has saddled no fewer than 81 two-year-old winners this season, can add to that extraordinary tally at Catterick this afternoon.

Johnston, who will be busy this week and next at Newmarket's Yearling Sales searching for talent for next season, is represented by NEW CALEDONIA in the Watch On 3 Devices racinguk.com/anywhere Nursery Handicap.

Joe Fanning's mount, a York winner in the summer, has since run well to finish second at Windsor and Newmarket, most recently when going down by three-parts of a length to the progressive Drifting Spirit.

New Caledonia has weight to concede all round here but is fancied to be up to the task – and provide Johnston with yet another two-year-old winner.

Richard Fahey, another North Yorkshire trainer who has done well in the juvenile department this year, saddles EARLY BIRD in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes.

Jack Garritty's mount finished a close-up second in a Musselburgh nursery last time out. She may be capable of clinching this maiden, which does not look the strongest of races.

SPIRIT OF ZEBEDEE, trained by John Quinn, may prove the answer to the second leg of the Bhest Racing To School Nursery Handicap.

The youngster came out best of the rest of a big field when chasing home Ponty Royale at Redcar last time out. Spirit Of Zebedee may not have to improve much on that effort to come out on top this time and is napped to open his winning account.

Amateur riders will relish today's Catterick card with two divisions of a race, a sprint handicap, confined to them.

The accomplished Tom Hamilton is fancied to clinch the first leg on the Ollie Pears-trained STUDIO STAR, runner-up at Ripon last time and well drawn on this five furlong course.

Jessica McLernon, pupil assistant trainer to Richard Fahey, teams up with the Ron Barr-trained MITCHUM in the second division.

The gelding finished second over six furlongs at Ripon on his latest start. If he can repeat that performance over this shorter trip, he is likely to be on the premises at the finish.

At Leicester, LIGHT MUSIC will be a popular choice among punters in the opening division of the British Stallion Studs Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Trained by William Haggas, the juvenile – owned and bred by Her Majesty The Queen – finished second at Salisbury on her debut after being sent off favourite. She looks a useful performer in the making and can recover losses this time with Pat Cosgrave in the saddle.

The second division could well fall to EXIST, who represents the Golden Horn partnership of John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. Although unraced, Exist boasts a useful pedigree as a daughter of Exceed And Excel.

Also worth noting at Leicester are David O'Meara's lightly-raced HIGH AND FLIGHTY (4.10) and well-bred newcomer HOLD TIGHT (5.10), who carries the Godolphin colours.