Aidan O'Brien, conspicuous by his absence from York this week, can make his presence felt at Newbury tomorrow.

Tipperary's champion trainer saddles Hawk Wing in the £200,000 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes and this classy, if somewhat infuriating colt, is fancied to beat his seven rivals in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of this Group 1 contest.

Runner-up in both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby last season, when he found winning a difficult act to maintain, Hawk Wing remains a top-notch performer and reports of his recent home-work have been nothing if not encouraging.

Kevin Darley renews his partnership with Where Or When, conqueror of Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot last September, while Kieren Fallon, who has been in unstoppable form on Knavesmire this week, teams-up with Olden Times, winner of last month's Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.

Add to that duo the likes of French challenger Domedriver, winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile last autumn, and the Mark Johnston-trained Desert Deer, a Group 2 winner at Sandown last time, and what you have here is race to savour.

Hawk Wing and Mick Kinane are the ones to beat, in my book.

Bangalore makes stacks of appeal in the skybet.com Stakes after his eye-catching run at Ripon recently.

Amanda Perrett's talented stayer finished a close second to Windermere, but could be considered an unlucky loser, having been hemmed-in behind the leaders from fully two furlongs out.

Sure to have benefitted from that outing over a mile and a half, Nap selection Bangalore will appreciate tomorrow's stiffer stamina test and will be a tough nut to crack.

Sir Michael Stoute, who enjoyed a wonderful three days at York, with a host of winners, can carry on the good work with Candelabra in the Catridge Farm Stud & Manor Farm Packers Fillies' Handicap.

Last month's maiden race winner is now contesting a handicap for the first time and, although she hardly looks 'thrown-in' at the weights, she represents a lightly-raced three-year-old on the upgrade.

Speed will at a premium at Thirsk tomorrow. With no fewer than three handicap sprints, plus a two-year-old contest, four of the seven races will be staged over no more than six furlongs.

Attraction will surely be hard to catch in the opening EBF Carlton Miniott Novice Fillies' Stakes after her runaway victory at Nottingham on her debut.

Mark Johnston's juvenile looks pretty smart and a repeat win tomorrow could have connections dreaming about Royal Ascot.

Cd Europe should not be overlooked in the £14,000 Tote Exacta Handicap.

A fluent winner at Hamilton two outings ago, Kevin Ryan's gelding found little luck in running at Beverley last Saturday and did well under the circumstances to finish fourth to Grey Cossack over five furlongs. Back up to six furlongs here, Cd Europe will be difficult to beat.

Also worth noting at Thirsk are the in-form Excellento (3.15) and the promising Tommy Smith (5.30).

Saturday's tips:

Newbury

Televised races: 1.55 Santando, 2.25 Bangalore (Nap), 3.00 Hawk Wing, 3.35 Star Cross.

Thirsk

2.10 Attraction, 2.40 Hans Christian, 3.15 Excellento, 3.50 Essnaad, 4.25 Cd Europe, 4.55 Rectangle, 5.30 Tommy Smith.

- Tomorrow's other meetings are at Bangor, Hamilton, Lingfield, Nottingham and Sedgefield

Updated: 14:24 Friday, May 16, 2003