Reverence, who hit the jackpot at York last week when winning the Nunthorpe Stakes, can complete an outstanding Group 1 double on the other side of the Pennines tomorrow.

The Eric Alston-trained gelding lines up for the £300,000 Betfred Sprint Cup and is fancied to oblige again at the main expense of Amadeus Wolf, who was second to him on Knavesmire.

The success story of Reverence is a remarkable and inspiring tale. Having fractured his pelvis as a two-year-old and again at three, he did not make his racecourse debut until last season. His opening success was at Ripon in August last year.

Reverence has made rapid strides since then and his latest triumph heralded his arrival as a top-notch sprinter, particularly on rain-softened ground, which he had at York and which, significantly, he has again tomorrow.

Amadeus Wolf, beaten by two lengths by Reverence last week, has every chance of making the winner pulling out all the stops again tomorrow, especially as this race is run over an extra furlong.

Quito, David Chapman's popular campaigner who is another mudlark, cannot be overlooked. Nor can Somnus, trained by Tim Easterby, who won this race three years ago.

Add to those runners, Excusez Moi, recent winner of Ripon's Great St Wilfrid Handicap, and it is plain to see that this is a race not to be missed. But Reverence, the invalid-turned-champion, is my choice to score again with his regular pilot Kevin Darley.

David Nicholls can win the opening race, the Betfred Be Friendly Handicap, with Bahamian Pirate.

Now in the twilight of his career, at the age of 11, Bahamian Pirate has nevertheless been in excellent form. He finished a good third to Baltic King in last Sunday's Beverley Bullet.

Thirsk's final meeting of the year has eight races, with more quantity than quality.

I fancy Raucous to run a big race in the £12,500 skybet.com Hambleton Cup. Trained by the in-form Tom Tate, Raucous scored a gutsy win at Ripon recently. There is surely more to come from him.

Pearl's Girl is awarded the Nap vote in the Rectangle Fillies' Handicap.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old scored at Ascot last time and does not look badly treated in this handicap, especially with smart apprentice Liam Jones reducing her weight by 5lb.

Selections

Tomorrow

Haydock: 1.10 Bahamian Pirate, 1.45 Soulacroix, 2.15 Reverence, 2.45 Satchem, 3.15 Guacamole, 3.50 Striving Storm, 4.25 Maud's Cat.

Thirsk: 1.50 Turkish Sultan, 2.20 Pearl's Girl (Nap), 2.50 Hadahoo, 3.25 Raucous, 4.00 Arch of Titus, 4.35 Joshua's Gold, 5.05 Tagula Bay, 5.35 Charles Parnell.

Tomorrow's other meetings: Kempton, Stratford, Wolverhampton (evening).