Philharmonic, triumphant at last month's Evening Press Sunday raceday at York, returns tomorrow for the final day of the Knavesmire season with excellent prospects of gaining his second victory on the course.

Richard Fahey's fast-improving juvenile goes for the £22,000 Newton Fund Managers Rockingham Stakes, and I fancy he will win with Paul Hanagan in the saddle.

Philharmonic, who justified favouritism in gutsy style when opening his account at the Sunday raceday, had at least two subsequent winners behind him that day.

He has since beaten stronger opposition in decisive fashion at Ripon, leaving the impression that there is even more to come.

Tomorrow's step-up to Listed company offers Philharmonic the chance to climb another rung of the ladder.

In the coral.co.uk Sprint Trophy Handicap, with £30,000 up for grabs, Settrington trainer John Quinn has a leading candidate.

He saddles Smart Predator, a winner at Beverley last time out. The gelding has been in excellent form all season and is is a previous winner on this course.

Quinn has had this race in mind for some time and Smart Predator, who will be very much at home on the fast ground, should run a big race..

The progressive Esplanade promises to go well for Sir Michael Stoute and Brett Doyle in the Persimmon Homes Handicap, while Arzoo, a useful horse on his day, can deliver the goods for Luca Cumani and Darryll Holland in the Alwa Handicap.

On what will be Pat Eddery's final day riding on Knavesmire, the 11-times champion jockey, who retires in a month's time, has a fighting chance of marking the occasion with a win on Spectroscope in the Coldstream Guards Handicap.

Whatever John Quinn's fate at York with Smart Predator and Fantasy Believer, the Ryedale handler has another excellent chance at Ascot with Smart Hostess in the ladbrokes.com Handicap.

A half-sister to Smart Predator, Nap selection Smart Hostess has won on the last two Saturdays. at Redcar and Ripon. This race will be her toughest task to date, but she could hardly be in better form.

Michael Jarvis has a high opinion of Cartography, who is saddled by the Newmarket trainer in the Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes. Cartigraphy was an impressive winner at Beverley a fortnight ago.

The unbeaten Elshadi has good hat-trick prospects in the Tom McGee Autumn Stakes, while the booking of Kieren Fallon for Chorist in the Princess Royal Willmot Dixon Stakes highlights the chances of William Haggas's smart four-year-old.

Fallon, who rode his 199th winner on turf at York yesterday on Clever Clogs, can also score on Chic (4.00) and Navado (4.35), both trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

Saturday's tips:

York

1.40 Philharmonic, 2.10 Esplanade, 2.45 Smart Predator, 3.15 Arzoo, 3.50 King Of Dreams, 4.25 Spectroscope.

Ascot

1.15 Elshadi, 1.45 Smart Hostess (Nap), 2.20 Cartography, 2.50 Chorist, 3.25 Chic, 4.00 Oriental Warrior, 4.35 Navado.

Bangor

1.55 Risky Way, 2.25 Waterberg, 2.55 Bosham Mill, 3.30 Prokofiev, 4.05 Carn Rivers, 4.40 Auditty, 5.10 Refinement.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Hexham and Southwell.

Updated: 13:19 Friday, October 10, 2003