MICK Easterby, the veteran North Yorkshire trainer, has his Sheriff Hutton team in excellent form and CAN YOU CONGA can put his best foot forward to add his name to the stable's scoresheet at Haydock this evening.

The five-year-old has been shaping up well lately, finishing fourth at Carlisle on his last two starts – both over six furlongs.

Significantly, he is now dropped to the minimum trip and the way he travelled on his most recent outing suggests this shorter distance will suit him.

The mount of Graham Gibbons, Can You Conga is fancied to come good for his in-form trainer.

Tim Easterby, Mick's nephew, can also hit the target at the Lancashire course with SURROUND SOUND and Sakhee's Return.

Surround Sound, the mount of Rachel Ricahardson, runs in the Betdaq.Com Serious About Horses Apprentice Training Series Handicap.

A respectable fourth to Musselburgh on his penultimate start, Surround Sound looked slightly unlucky when runner-up at Wolverhampton last week, getting slightly caught in traffic on the home turn before staying on well, only to be denied by three-parts of a length.

He can make amends at the main expense of the hat-trick-seeking Merchant Of Medici.

SAKHEE'S RETURN has finished in the frame in both his starts this season, most recently at York last month behind Udodontu over seven furlongs.

The three-year-old tackles the same trip this evening and can make it third-time-lucky under Duran Fentiman.

STELLAIRE may be able to defy top weight in the Silk Mill Bar Ripponden Welcomes You Handicap.

Although only a narrow winner at Redcar last time out, that was Stellaire's first outing on turf and only the second of her career.

She is now stepped up a further two furlongs, which looks sure to play to her stengths. Given a rating of only 68 for her handicap debut, Ed Walker's filly has strong claims.

PARK PLACE looked an unlucky loser at Beverley last time out, finishing strongly in fifth place – beaten little more than a length – after meeting trouble in running and being forced to switch to launch his challenge.

He should go well with a clear run in the Tonight's Top Tip-Silk Mill Handicap and is awarded the nap vote.

At Newbury this afternoon, ALONSOA looks an interesting runner in the featured £50,000 Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes.

Henry Candy's three-year-old won her first two starts last season before finishing fourth in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes. She finished off with an unplaced effort in Group 2 company.

Alonsoa now tackles Listed company for her comeback and has a 3lb penalty to carry for her Listed win as a juvenile. She is useful and not one to underestimate, despite her lack of a preparatory outing.

David O'Meara's North Yorkshire raider Supreme Occasion, with a race under her belt, could also go well.

Candy can also have a say in the outcome of the Insure Wiser Handicap with PERCEIVED.

Dane O'Neill takes over in the saddle on the three-year-old, who was apprentice-ridden when in the frame on her last two starts.

Also worth noting are the promising PAPA LUIGI (2.20) and SWORD OF THE LORD (5.35), who will have the considerable assistance of Simon Walker in the amateur riders' race.