JOHN Gosden can strike at York through Cape Cova in the stanjames.com Stakes.

The three-year-old is something of a dark horse among the powerful battalion at his trainer's Newmarket base but is progressive and a nice stayer in the making.

Unraced last season, he took four runs to get off the mark but did so pleasingly at Lingfield in July and made his handicap bow a winning one at Doncaster later the same month.

The margin was a narrow but comfortable one and he is very interesting again on his return, stepping up another two furlongs down the long Knavesmire straight. He would welcome the absence of rain.

Rhododendron is fancied to keep Aidan O'Brien's big-race run going in the Dubai Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.

The master trainer can do little wrong in Group Ones at the moment and in this daughter of Galileo he has a strong contender for a third consecutive win in the race, after Minding 12 months ago and Together Forever in 2014.

She has followed a similar path to Minding and while she was beaten in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last time out with reopposing stablemate Hydrangea in front her, Ryan Moore has opted to keep the faith.

It looks a quality field with the unexposed Sobetsu and Spatial adding extra spice to proceedings, but it is a brave man who goes against O'Brien in this sort of contest and a lively surface will be to her liking.

It also pays to stick with Andre Fabre when he targets something for a cross-Channel raid at Headquarters and his Double Lady could be anything in the visionsport.com Oh So Sharp Stakes.

She built on her debut behind Toulifaut - who is most likely much better than she showed at Chantilly at the weekend - when easily getting off the mark next time out.

There might not be a superstar in opposition and it is noteworthy that Fabre won this in 2013 with subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Miss France.

Mrs Danvers can continue to defy the odds in the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes.

The cheaply-bought juvenile has provided the Flat season with one of its more compelling narratives after she added to her Weatherbys Super Sprint gains with Listed honours in the St Hugh's Fillies' Stakes back at Newbury in August.

Jonathan Portman had been thinking about running her again in September, but the grey daughter of Hellvelyn developed an infection and needed time to recover.

Few trainers have their string in better nick than William Haggas and his Tasleet is taken to defy a lengthy absence in the Dubai 100 Challenge Stakes.

He has not been seen since winning the Greenham run at Chelmsford back in April, but by all accounts did a sparkling piece of work at the weekend and will relish the ground.

With £140,000 up for grabs it is not surprising the Godolphin Flying Star Old Rowley Cup has attracted a competitive field, and the vote goes to Saunter.

The David Menuisier-trained colt has won both his stars in Britain with some authority and the handicapper put him up 9lb for his efforts.

How much more he has to give is the imponderable, of course, but the fact he tries a mile and a half for the first time is thought to be a positive and he hails from a yard that has shown it knows the time of day.

Sir Michael Stoute takes the opportunity to step Playful Sound up to Listed class in the Dubai Business Internships Pride Stakes and the hint should be taken.

She defied a 6lb rise in the weights to win in some style at Chester last month on her return from a break, taking her record to three wins from as many starts.

Stoute's patient approach has been seen to good effect many times before and it will be a major surprise if this Street Cry filly cannot make her mark at this sort of level.

SELECTIONS:

NEWCASTLE: 5.40 Kirtling, 6.10 Paris Magic, 6.40 Three Duchesses, 7.10 Irish Optimism, 7.40 Whitby Bay, 8.10 Bismarck The Flyer, 8.40 Deansgate, 9.10 Rich Again.

NEWMARKET: 1.35 Mrs Danvers, 2.05 Double Lady, 2.40 Tasleet, 3.10 RHODODENDRON (NAP), 3.45 Saunter, 4.20 Mittens, 4.50 Playful Sound.

NEWTON ABBOT: 1.55 Black Corton, 2.30 Old Guard, 3.00 The Romford Pele, 3.35 Vintage Vinnie, 4.05 Magic Money, 4.40 Mrsrobin, 5.15 Tengri.

YORK: 1.45 Battered, 2.20 Big Time, 2.50 Her Terms, 3.25 Cape Cova, 3.55 Aleef, 4.30 Lord Commander, 5.00 Khelman.

DOUBLE: Rhododendron and Cape Cova.