NORTH Yorkshire jockey Tony Culhane, who lives near Thirsk, misses the opening meeting at his local course tomorrow in order to travel to Newbury to continue a happy acquaintance.

Culhane has been booked by Newmarket trainer William Haggas to partner Fyodor in the Dubai Full of Surprises Handicap, and this able gelding is napped to take this £20,000 prize.

Culhane has enjoyed a lucrative association with Fyodor, who was voted the all-weather sprinter of the winter, and there is every chance that this speedy five-year-old can continue his consistent run of form back on turf.

There is certainly nothing wrong with Culhane's form. The jockey, on the mark at Redcar on Monday aboard Rio Riva, followed up at Newmarket yesterday when lifting the prestigious Free Handicap on Misu Bond, trained at Hambleton by Bryan Smart.

Fyodor is taken to continue Culhane's winning spree in tomorrow's five-furlongs dash.

Mick Channon can land the Dubai Duty Free Gold Wold Cup Conditions Stakes with Hazeymm, the mount of Ted Durcan.

The colt broke his maiden on this course last autumn, fulfilling earlier promise with a workmanlike victory. He looks the type to progress further this year over middle-distances.

Trainer Barry Hills could hold the key to the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap with Bonnie Prince Blue.

The colt won two of his three races last season, including one on this course and looks to have the right sort of profile to do well in his second term.

It is significant that Hills runs Bonnie Prince Blue in preference to his recent Lingfield winner Tommy Toogood.

Maiden races are a feature of the Newbury card and, while the betting market may prove the best guide, with so little form to go on, a couple of names worth noting are Cav Okay (1.40), a speedily-bred juvenile trained by Richard Hannon, and King Of Argos (5.25), whose trainer Ed Dunlop sent out a maiden race winner at Newmarket yesterday.

At Thirsk, Hewaraat, trained near Richmond by the shrewd Alan Swinbank, takes the eye in the Hawnby Handicap over seven furlongs.

A 27,000 guineas purchase out of Barry Hills' yard at last autumn's sales, Hewaraat showed plenty of promise last term, which included a maiden-race win at Epsom.

Although he has yet to race beyond six furlongs, he should have the necessary stamina for seven and is not to be underestimated.

Bryan Smart has his horses in fine form and, with one two-year-old winner to his credit already this term, the Hasssmbleton handler may land another with Avertuoso in the Carpenters Arms Felixkirk Novice Stakes.

Robert Winston, who is returning after a five-day ban, looks a significant booking for this speedily-bred youngster.

Friday's tips:

Newbury

1.40 Cav Okay, 2.10 Blessings Count, 2.45 Bonnie Prince Blue, 3.15 Fyodor (NAP), 3.45 Hazeymm, 4.20 Distinctive Look, 4.50 Ghost Story, 5.25 King Of Argos.

Thirsk

2.30 Avertuoso, 3.05 Golden Alchemist, 3.35 Major Magpie, 4.10 Hewaraat, 4.40 Silver Dane, 5.10 Buachaill Dona, 5.40 Mujeak.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Ayr, Kempton and Sedgefield.

Updated: 12:19 Thursday, April 20, 2006