Kevin Darley gives Pontefract a miss tomorrow in search of bigger rewards at Ascot's televised meeting and his journey south should pay dividends.

The Sheriff Hutton jockey teams up with Banjo Bay in the £35,000 Sony Victoria Cup and I expect Darley to get a winning tune out of Bryan McMahon's talented four-year-old.

Although disappointing in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster a month ago, Banjo Bay appreciated the return to tomorrow's distance of seven furlongs on his latest start at Newmarket when finishing a good second to Sea Star.

He meets the winner on better terms tomorrow and I fancy him to turn the tables and confirm his superiority over several of the other runners who finished behind him at Newmarket.

Banjo Bay is a solid competitor in handicap company.

Darley can also enjoy a good ride on And Beyond in the £42,000 Bovis Homes Sagaro Stakes.

The Mark Johnston-trained four-year-old won the Queen's Vase last season over tomorrow's course and distance and also won at York. Johnston expects to aim him at races like the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this season.

And Beyond faces a tough reappearance tomorrow, with the likes of Persian Punch and his talented race-fit stablemate Double Honour in opposition, but I think that And Beyond, an admirable stayer, will run a big race.

Tim Easterby is sending Good Girl to Ascot for the Sodexho Pavillion Stakes over six furlongs.

This three-year-old was thought not to go seven furlongs when raced over that trip for the first time in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month and the return to sprinting tomorrowshould suit her. Not far behind the best of her sex and generation last season, Good Girl should go well under Jamie Spencer.

Tim Easterby can also make his prescence felt at Pontefract, courtesy of Timing in the Knottingley Handicap.

Robert Winston's mount won at Catterick two outings ago before finishing a respectable second at Southwell in a shorter race run at a dawdling gallop.

Tomorrow's return to a mile and a half should suit Timing, who is napped to get back on the winning trail.

Tomorrow's tips:

Ascot

(Televised races)

2.00 Dusty Answer, 2.30 And Beyond, 3.05 Banjo Bay, 4.10 Good Girl

Pontefract

2.20 Revenue, 2.50 Shamwari Song, 3.25 Vanderlin, 4.00 Royal Approval, 4.30 Global Challenge, 5.00 Timing (Nap), 5.30 Kylkenny.

Updated: 12:58 Tuesday, April 30, 2002