The popularity of the annual Evening Press raceday at York clearly extends beyond the thousands of racegoers who annually flock to Knavesmire for an entertaining seven-race card. It also includes trainers, owners and jockeys.

More than 120 horses will be in action tomorrow, which smacks of outstanding support of the meeting from racing's professionals. The bad news is, that with so many huge fields, picking winners may be akin to finding needles in haystacks.

Sualda, trained by the in-form Richard Fahey, and a 33-1 winner here at the Ebor Festival last month, will doubtless have his share of supporters in the featured Layerthorpe Volkwagen Beetle Handicap, but marginal preference is for Strangely Brown.

Trained at Newmarket by Stuart Williams, the three-year-old has won his last two races in the style of a progressive performer. Upped in class tomorrow, but figuring at the foot of the handicap with bottom weight, Strangely Brown makes plenty of appeal.

With Boston Spa jockey Dale Gibson in the saddle, he can complete a hat-trick in this £20,000 event.

Fahey, who has a good record at this meeting, could still get his name on the scoresheet, courtesy of Mobane Flyer in the Evening Press Compact Apprentice Handicap.

This ex-Irish gelding showed that his winning turn was near when finishing a close-up third to Artistic Style at Newcastle recently. Tomorrow's longer distance should suit him and he will receive every assistance from the accomplished Philip Makin.

Following Tim Easterby's horses is a popular pastime of some Knavesmire regulars, and such a policy could well pay dividends.

The Great Habton trainer has several fancied runners throughout the afternoon, not least Game Lad in the opening Sarah Coggles Nursery.

Dave Allan's mount will be having his first run in a handicap and should relish the step-up to seven furlongs. Well drawn, he should go well.

Flash Ram, who has been in good form lately, likewise has strong claims from a favourable inside draw in the wide-open Monks Cross Shopping Park Handicap.

Glasgow trainer Jim Goldie saddles Yorkshire Blue in the Smith Brothers Handicap.

A useful money-spinner this season, Yorkshire Blue has got the plum inside draw in this seven-furlongs contest and will also have the benefit of top apprentice Nicky Mackay in the saddle. A bold bid is anticipated.

Sally Hall, who is based at Middleham, has only a tiny string these days, but she has a promising youngster under her care in Bold Haze, who faces the starter in the One Call Insurance Maiden Auction Stakes.

A very creditable third from a poor draw on his debut at Ripon, Bold Haze has only to reproduce that sort of form to take all the beating here.

The DRS For Sony "Premier" Claiming Stakes is a trappy-looking event. Ionian Spring, although in the twilight of his career, has been in such good form this season, that he should be included in any shortlist for the race.

All in all, a cracking days' racing is in store.

Updated: 09:38 Saturday, September 04, 2004