Frankie Dettori can start today's meeting on the right note by taking the Garbutt & Elliott Stakes on Best Alibi.

Best Alibi has been away from the track for more than six months and, although that might be of concern to punters, it looks significant that Dettori teams up with Best Abili when the colt's trainer has two other smart horses in the line-up in Fairmile and Arqaam.

Last year on Knavesmire Best Alibi won the Sky Bet York Stakes after finishing third to Dylan Thomas in the Irish Derby. A classy horse on his day, he can provide Dettori with an opening victory.

Dettori, who completed the Dante-Juddmonte International double on Derby hero Authorized at York this year, teams up with a very interesting newcomer in the I G Index Maiden in Calming Influence.

A son of King's Best, Calming Influence has a useful looking pedigree and he may well have enough ability to make a winning debut at the expense of two locally-trained horses with solid form on the board - Hamish McGonagall, trained by Tim Easterby, and Harrison George, trained by Richard Fahey.

Fahey, however, should have a big say in the outcome of the Acorn Web Offset Nursery with Excitement, who created a very favourable impression at The Press Sunday Raceday last month.

Having only her second start, Excitement won in the style of a decent filly. She commands plenty of respect as she now tackles handicap company for the first time. With Paul Hanagan in the saddle, she is awarded the nap vote.

Dettori will partner Amarna in the TSG Handicap, but he may have to settle for a place behind Nevada Desert, trained near Leeds by Richard Whitaker.

A winner at York in July, Nevada Desert confirmed his well-being with a sterling effort at Haydock recently, finishing third behind Zaahid and Observatory Star.

The biggest cheer of the day will be reserved for Sporting Gesture should he win the Betfair Apprentice Training Series Finale Handicap.

Trained by Mick Easterby for York businessman Steve Hull, Sporting Gesture won here last month in momentous style, given that it was his 100th career outing and his 30th race at York, where he has won five times.

Sporting Gesture should make a bold bid, but marginal preference is for Rudry World, twice a winner at Hamilton.

Hotham, a winner for Flaxton trainer Noel Wilson at Pontefract a fortnight ago, can follow up in the Persimmon Homes Handicap.

York selections

2.10 Best Alibi

2.40 Excitement (NAP)

3.15 Nevada Desert

3.50 Calming Influence

4.25 Hotham

4.55 Rudry World