THOSE who marked down White Lake as a horse to follow when he made a winning debut at York a fortnight ago and earned himself a complimentary price for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas, should take note of the North Yorkshire colt who chased him home at Thirsk today.

Secret Brief, trained by Mark Johnston at Middleham, came out best of the rest behind White Lake in the Convivial Maiden on Knavesmire. That was his third start and a performance which tended to suggest that he is on an upward curve.

Secret Brief tackles the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes and is fancied to get Thirsk punters off to a good start.

The £15,000 Personal Touches Handicap sees a rematch between Master Of The World and Extremity, who finished first and second respectively in the concluding handicap at York's Ebor Festival.

There was only a length and a half between them last time and there should be precious little to choose between the pair again. But Master Of The World came from a long way back on Knavesmire after missing the break and he might well be able to confirm his superiority over Extremity on 3lb worse terms.

Abbey Angel was pipped on the post on this course in maiden company on her penultimate outing, but has since gained compensation in clear-cut style at Beverley.

Richard Fahey's progressive filly has been raised 7lb for her latest success, but she remains on a competitive mark in the Jenny Roberts Original British Millinery Handicap. Tony Hamilton rides.

Newmarket-based Yorkshireman William Haggas has good prospects of a couple of maiden winners on the card.

He saddles Tadqeeq, who should be all the better for his debut outing, in the second leg of the British Stallion Studs EEBF Maiden, and also Newmarket third Tadpole, a filly who hails from an exceptional family, in the Breeders Backing Racing EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes. Both should go well Also worth noting are Galactic Heroine, a Doncaster winner, who admittedly produced a subdued display at Goodwood last time, in the Hambleton Cup and Cordial, narrowly beaten at Windsor last time, in the Christmas Party Nights at Thirsk Racecourse Handicap.

At Haydock, the £260,000 Betfred Sprint Cup takes pride of place and all eyes will be on Sole Power, brilliant winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes at York - and also the King's Stand at Royal Ascot - who now bids to complete a Group 1 hat-trick.

The big question mark is the trip. Sole Power, winner of 10 of his 42 races, has yet to win over six furlongs and a safer proposition in the circumstances may be another Irish raider, Gordon Lord Byron, winner of this race last year. He was beaten only a nose in a Group 3 race at the Curragh recently on his first outing after a break. He should be spot-on now.

Tim Easterby's Confessional merits respect in the opening Betfred Mobile Be Friendly Handicap.

Although he's not the easiest of horses to win with, the Great Habton gelding finished a fine third in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon three weeks ago. He is a previous winner on this course and indeed won this corresponding race 12 months ago.

Quest For More may provide the answer to the Betfred TV Old Borough Cup.

Tough, consistent and progressive, the Roger Charlton-trained four-year-old has run two excellent races to finish runner-up since winning at Doncaster and remains a horse on the upgrade. This one and three-quarter miles will be perfect for him ad he figures at the right end of the weights. He earns the nap vote.

Middleham trainer Karl Burke has his horses in wonderful form and Felix Leiter should go well for him in the Betfred Goals Galore Nursery Handicap.

Winner of his last three starts. the juvenile showed a tremendous fighting spirit to score at York's Ebor Festival. he's up 7lb for that success, but he may not have stopped improving yet. Ben Curtis again has the mount.

Selections

Thirsk today 2.00 Secret Brief, 2.30 Tadqeeq, 3.05 Tadpole, 3.40 Master Of The World, 4.20 Hazelrigg, 4.55 Abbey Angel, 5.25 Galactic Heroine, 6.00 Cordial.

Haydock today 2.05 Confessional, 2.40 Short Squeeze, 3.15 Quest For More, 3.50 Gordon Lord Byron, 4.25 Felix Leiter, 5.00 Celestial Path, 5.30 Mizzou.

Tomorrow's other meetings Ascot, Kempton, Stratford and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow meetings Fontwell and York.