NORTH Yorkshire trainer David O’Meara, who made a successful raid on Sandown last Friday when Custom Cut won in Group 2 company, bids for further success south of the border this afternoon with talented French recruit Mondialiste at Ascot.

Danny Tudhope’s mount lines up in the William & Son Paradise Stakes, a Listed event over a mile, and is fancied to make it third time lucky.

Narrowly beaten by Gabrial in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster last month, Mondialiste was stepped up to Group 3 level at Newmarket on his latest outing and finished an excellent third to French Navy.

The five-year-old should be well suited by Ascot’s stiff track and, from a stable in excellent form, can make his long journey from O’Meara’s base at Nawton near Helmsley well worthwhile.

Anyone who saw Limato win the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy last October will surely not want to dismiss him from calculations on his return to action in the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes.

Henry Candy’s charge was four-from-four as a juvenile and he barely came off a tight rein to land a big prize at Redcar, beating Mattmu, who went on to win at Listed and Group 2 level for Tim Easterby.

Limato begins his second season off a mark of 115 and looks an exciting horse to follow.

James Doyle has the mount.

The Ascot card is further highlighted by the Longines Sagaro Stakes over two miles.

Forever Now may have been a beaten odds-on favourite on his reappearance at Nottingham, but John Gosden’s four-year-old is entitled to respect stepping up to two miles.

He showed some high-class form last season, including winning in Listed company at Goodwood and finishing sixth in the St Leger at Doncaster.

Former Malton jockey Freddie Tylicki renews his exciting acquaintance with Gifted Master in the opening Times+ Conditions Stakes.

Hugo Palmer’s colt won stylishly at Newmarket’s Craven meeting and looks a very smart two-year-old.

It will be surprising to see his colours lowered.

Pontefract has a number of small fields, but there will be no lack of interest in the seven-race card, which is highlighted by the Ladbrokes Mobile Fillies’ Handicap.

There may be only four runners, but it looks a tricky contest to solve.

Marginal preference is for Sir Michael Stoute’s Asyad, the mount of Ted Durcan, who won at Leicester last season and who was narrowly beaten at Newbury. She is lightly raced and is open to further improvement this term.

The Northern Racing College Handicap is another four-runner race, and although Godolphin’s recent comfortable Windsor winner Sparring is likely to take plenty of beating under a penalty, he has 19lb to concede to Cosmic Statesman, which may tip the balance in favour of Musley Bank handler Richard Fahey’s representative, who finished second at Nottingham on his comeback.

Fahey has had five individual juvenile winners already this season and First To Post could well be another in the William Hill Maiden Stakes.

Tony Hamilton’s mount is speedily bred and is likely to know his job on his debut.

Tim Easterby fields an interesting rival in the likewise unraced Bossipop, who also has plenty of speed in his pedigree. It promises to be an informative race.

Also worthy of note at Pontefract are the promising Fallen For A Star (2.35), who shaped well on his debut at Newmarket, despite failing to justify joint-favouritism, and Paul Midgley’s Choc’a’moca (5.20), who ran well over course and distance nine days ago and is likely to have benefited from the outing.

Rachel Richardson takes the mount on the nap selection.

Ascot today: 2.25 Gifted Master, 3.00 Montalcino, 3.30 Forever Now, 4.05 Limato, 4.35 Mondialiste, 5.10 Duelling Dragon.

Pontefract today: 2.00 First To Post, 2.35 Fallen For A Star, 3.10 Trinity Star, 3.45 Asyad, 4.15 Cosmic Statesman, 4.45 Mrs Biggs, 5.20 Choc’a’moca (NAP).

Today’s other meetings: Wolverhampton, Cheltenham and Lingfield.