THE penultimate day of the Yorkshire Racing Festival at York boasts a cracking sevenrace card, and Mark Johnston can keep the big-race prize in Yorkshire with Lowdown.

The feature race, the Sky Bet Dash (3.40), run over six furlongs, has attracted a field of 20, but many of them will fear Mark Johnston’s progressive three-year-old, who has bolted up in his last two starts at Ripon and Hamilton.

It is interesting that the Middleham trainer has booked Frankie Dettori to take the ride and connections are hoping to scoop this prize before taking in the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood next weekend. Although the handicapper has had his say for Lowdown’s recent Hamilton success, he gets a pull at the weights for his age and he can make the most of it from stall three, which should be a plus as well.

The first race of the day on the Knavesmire is a nursery, (2.00), over the five-furlong trip and another Middleham trainer has a good chance here, with Jedd O’Keeffetrained Dubai Celebration looking to hold a solid chance.

A winner when last seen at Haydock, Dubai Celebration is bred to be good as he is a half-brother to high-class stallion Kyllachy.

This is only his fourth start and Patrick Donaghy, a useful 5lb apprentice who rode him to victory last time out, again takes the ride.

There are also good cards at Newcastle and Ascot.

At Newcastle, Richard Fahey has a few good chances, none more so than Chiswick Bay, who can take the opening six-furlong nursery with the minimum of fuss.

A winner on his debut at Doncaster, he ran respectably at Royal Ascot last time out and can keep up a fine run of form for his Malton trainer.

At Ascot, the feature race comes up at 4.25, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in which Derby winner Workforce can add to his tally of victories. Anyone who can get even money with their bookmaker should fill their boots.

Disappointingly, there are only six runners, but Workforce and champion jockey Ryan Moore can lead home stable companion Harbinger.

Staying at Ascot, the best betting opportunity comes up in the race before, when there is a cracking seven-furlong heritage handicap.

There are a couple of interesting northern raiders in this contest, none more so than Poet’s Place.

Trained in Thirsk by David Barron, this lightly-raced fiveyear- old has been unlucky on his only two starts to date.

Drawn in stall four, which should be a good draw looking at yesterday’s action, hopefully for me, and anyone else following him with financial interest, he will go off at a nice double-figure price.