Tim Easterby, who hit the jackpot in yesterday's Doncaster St Leger Yearling Stakes with Somnus, returns to Town Moor tomorrow with excellent prospects of taking the consolation prize with Roman Mistress.

The Great Habton trainer will saddle three runners, including my selection Roman Mistress, in the £40,000 DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes, a race which is confined to horses which failed to make the cut in yesterday's main event.

The outcome of that race brought a big smile to Easterby's face, with Somnus bagging a first prize of more than £143,000 for his three owners, Lady Caroline Legard, Roger Sidebottom and Sir Tatton Sykes.

Somnus was completing a 146-1 double for Easterby, initiated in the opening race by Golden Nun.

A high draw proved crucial on the straight course yesterday, and Roman Mistress is fortunately berthed in the number 17 stall in tomorrow's field of 22 runners.

A throroughly consistent filly, she has solid enough form to suggest she will make a bold bid in the hands of Kevin Darley.

I prefer Roman Mistress to stablemates Dazzling Bay, well-drawn in 18 but possibly better on softer ground, and the promising Majestic Times, who is unfavourably drawn in stall 4.

The Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes takes pride of place on tomorrow's Doncaster programme.

This £120,000 showpiece produced a battle royal last year when Dubai Destination got the better of Rock Of Gibraltar, who has since gone to win a record seven successive Group 1 races for his owner Sir Alex Ferguson.

David Loder, Frankie Dettori and Sheikh Mohammed, the connections of Dubai Destination, have every chance of following-up tomorrow with Almushahar, who showed a good attitude when winning a maiden race at Newmarket on his debut.

This Group 2 race is a lot tougher, but this potentially high-class colt could well prove equal to the task.

Darryll Holland, who rode the Kevin Ryan-trained Halmahera to victory yesterday in the Portland Handicap, can triumph tomorrow on The Whistling Teal in the Amco Corporation Troy Stakes.

Geoff Wragg's talented six-year-old won at Newmarket last month over tomorrow's distance of a mile and a half. A horse with an excellent turn of foot, The Whistling Teal is my Nap selection to win this Listed race.

Friday's tips:

Doncaster

1.40 Vintage Premium, 2.15 Prairie Falcon, 2.50 Almushahar, 3.25 The Whistling Teal (Nap), 3.55 Roman Mistress, 4.25 Funfair Wane, 4.55 Kangarilla Road.

Goodwood

2.00 Arctic Burst, 2.35 Atlantic Ace, 3.10 Rainwashed Gold, 3.45 Blue Leader, 4.15 Polish Off, 4.50 Winning Note, 5.15 Summer Cherry.

Updated: 13:16 Thursday, September 12, 2002