NORTH Yorkshire trainer Paul Midgley, who is shooting for the stars on Knavesmire tomorrow when Line Of Reason contests the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes, has a fighting chance of figuring on the scoresheet at Beverley this afternoon.

The Westow-based trainer runs Choc’a’moca in the second division of the Annie Oxtoby Memorial Handicap over five furlongs and Graham Lee’s mount is fancied to make it third time lucky this season from a favourable draw in stall four.

Choc’a’moca finished seventh, beaten little more than two lengths at Pontefract on his latest start. He is gradually coming to form and, off a favourable mark and on a course where he won last June, the eight-year-old is fancied to shine.

Midgley, who was on the mark with the evergreen Silvanus at Chester last week, placed Line Of Reason most effectively in handicap company last season.

The speedster gets the chance to break into the Pattern race ranks tomorrow in a race where the winning trophy will be fittingly presented by the Duke Of York, who will officially open the new weighing room complex.

Thatcherite could highlight Choc’a’moca’s chance if he manages to win the first division of the same race half an hour earlier.

Tony Coyle’s gelding ran in the same Pontefract race as Choc’a’moca a fortnight ago and finished a couple of lengths in front of him in coming a narrowly beaten third after coming from a long way behind following a tardy start.

Thatcherite is a quirky character and not one to rely on. But he won over this course and distance last season and, if he puts his best foot forward today, he is more than capable of scoring under Barry McHugh.

Graham Lee has several good rides on the Beverley card, including Ice Slice in the featured £10,000 Beverley Folk Festival Here 19-21 June Handicap.

Trained at Newmarket by James Eustace, Ice Slice finished a good second to Yourartisonfire at Nottingham on his reappearance. If he can step up slightly on that, which he’s entitled to, he looks sure to be involved in the shake up.

Over the jumps at Sedgefield, Enchanted Garden makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences in the Paxtons For JCB’s New Fastrac 400 Novices’ Chase.

The useful seven-year-old, trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson, won three of his six races over hurdles but, having climbed to a lofty mark of 143, will now have more opportunities over the major obstacles.

Brian Hughes takes the mount on Enchanted Garden, who hails from a yard which continues in cracking form. A trouble free round of jumping should make him hard to beat.

If course form is anything to go by, nap selection Sharp Rise deserves the utmost respect in the Paxtons Use Romero Insurance Brokers Handicap Chase.

Pauline Robson’s gelding not only beat Major Ivan by six lengths on his latest start over hurdles on this track, he had previously made a winning start to his chasing career on the same circuit.

Back over fences this afternoon, Sharp Rise is sure to be a tough nut to crack. James Reveley rides.

Also worth bearing in mind are Bob’s Legend (2.45), a respectable third to Bertie Moon here a couple of weeks ago, and Gingili (3.45), who bids to extend his winning sequence which already embraces a point-to-point, two bumpers and a hurdle.

Beverley today: 1.55 Amber Crystal, 2.25 Lathom, 2.55 Thatcherite, 3.25 Choc’a’moca, 3.55 Ice Slice, 4.25 Multi Grain, 4.55 Dark Red, 5.25 Alboretta.

Sedgefield today: 2.15 Lawless Island, 2.45 Bob’s Legend, 3.15 Enchanted Garden, 3.45 Gingili, 4.15 Sharp Rise (NAP), 4.45 Some Lad, 5.15 Lough Derg Cruise.

Today’s other meetings: Chelmsford, Southwell and Wincanton.