IT’S just three weeks to Redcar’s highlight of the year, the £175,000 Totepool Two Year Old Trophy, and there’s an intriguing pointer to the big race at the seaside track tomorrow (September 19).

Newmarket big-hitter Hugo Palmer sends out a well-bred newcomer in Hedonism for the first of eight races - the Watch Racing UK Anywhere Novice Auction Stakes at 1.20pm - and it’s interesting to note that the Excelebration filly is entered for the Two Year Old Trophy on October 7.

The Palmer team clearly think she has ability and, with leading lady rider Josephine Gordon in the saddle, Hedonism will be fancied to warm up with a win.

Tim Easterby’s Biddy Brady is going the right way, having improved with each of three runs, and is seen as the danger.

Michael Dods, who trains at Denton, near Darlington, has had a cracking season and he’s always worth watching at Redcar.

He won the Weatherby’s Racing Bank Nursery last year with King’s Gift and is triple-handed for this year’s renewal, with Byron’s Choice – the pick of last year’s winning rider Paul Mulrennan – appearing to be the stable’s leading fancy.

Simon Crisford sends Dark Liberty on the long journey from Berkshire and the Dark Angel filly will be well-fancied on her nursery debut under Graham Lee following a decent fourth at Nottingham last time.

Danny Tudhope rode a treble at the last Redcar meeting and he could well be back in the winner’s enclosure after the third race. The in-form rider is on Summerghand for his retained trainer, David O’Meara, and this colt finished a promising second to a Marco Botti runner at Epsom last time.

It’s that time of the year when soft ground horses come into their own and Honeysuckle Lil is never happier than when there’s plenty of give in the ground. Tim Easterby’s charge, ridden by Rachel Richardson, is on an eye-catching mark 8lbs lower than her last win on heavy going at Hamilton.

The Racing UK Straight Mile Series Handicap at 3.25pm is a really competitive affair. Redcar is a track known for its course specialists and Father Bertie fits that category, with his last three wins coming over the course and distance. Despite being top weight, he’s back on a favourable mark and has won before on soft.

That said, Mark Johnston horses are always to be feared and Morning Suit is an interesting entry at a big price. Although the three-year-old gelding has been well out of sorts lately, it’s worth remembering that he was considered good enough to run twice in a matter of days at Glorious Goodwood. On the first of those runs, over 1m 2f on bottomless ground, he had every chance two furlongs out before fading into eighth. He now drops back to 7f and is a pound below his last winning mark.

George Scott’s Newmarket raider Essential looks the answer to race number six after a promising third at Kempton last time and has the benefit of Danny Tudhope in the saddle.

The seventh race is anything but straightforward but it’s worth taking a chance with Sally Haynes’ Stanarley Pic. A course and distance winner on good to soft last month, he’s taken to follow up despite a 5lbs penalty.

An apprentices’ race concludes the meeting and Richard Fahey’s Sunnua, ridden by Sebastian Woods, will relish the conditions and is on an attractive mark after a progressive fourth at Thirsk last time.