GETTING one over the bookmakers is not going to be easy at York today, but at least by backing My Daisychain punters have a realistic chance of making a profit.

Latching on to Mark Johnston's two-year-olds second time out has often turned up trumps in the past and My Daisychain (3.00) was probably just in need of the outing when runner-up on her debut at Pontefract two weeks ago.

The superbly-bred daughter of Hector Protector additionally contributed to her own demise with a tendency to run green.

It's a trait not unusual in juveniles, but it's also one they normally shrug off fairly quickly once they've had a run or two.

The main opposition to My Daisychain will almost certainly emerge from Drury Lane, third in a hot-looking Newbury maiden. She'll most probably start at very cramped odds and to my way of thinking an each-way wager at odds of around 4-1 on Johnston's filly represents the value bet in the Hitchenor Maher Maiden Stakes.

"Nearly" horse Calcutta (3.30) bids to take the top prize on the card, the £18,000 Castlegate Rated Stakes.

Calcutta is nearly up to Pattern status, but not quite, so the drop back down the handicap company is bound to suit.

Last time out he just couldn't muster the pace to land a blow behind the smart Desert Deer in a one-mile Listed contest at Newmarket. But the Barry Hills-trained raider wasn't beaten that far and he faces nothing of the calibre of Desert Deer today.

I'll bet Kevin Ryan wishes all of his inmates possessed the same grit and determination as Gaelic Princess (4.30), who simply doesn't know how to run a bad race.

Gaelic Princess has won two of her last three races, including at Redcar a fortnight ago when she positively bounced off the fast ground. Underfoot conditions are virtually identical for the Acorn Web Offset Nursery, and even though the filly has to shoulder top-weight, I still expect another bold showing.

Without exception every National Hunt trainer is praying for rain, but until the wet stuff arrives, fields will continue to be frustratingly small over jumps.

A couple of characters turning out at Carlisle not averse to hearing their hooves rattle are Pessimistic Dick (3.40) and Job Rage (4.10).

Pessimistic Dick is fancied to outstay his three rivals in the long-distance Broombys Handicap Chase, while Job Rage has little to beat in the low-grade Weatherbys Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

* Top jockeys stole the show at York yesterday with Kieren Fallon and Richard Hughes, the first two in the title race, both completing doubles and former champion Kevin Darley completing his ninth turf season century in ten seasons.

The status quo was maintained with Fallon leading Hughes by 12 (131-119) thanks to a 5-1 brace, although that seems likely to be reduced to ten as Elusive City is set to lose two races, the horse having failed drugs tests.

The reigning champion struck first on Contraband and Prince Tum Tum with Hughes the unfortunate jockey to fill second place in both races.

His mount Parkland went down by a neck to Prince Tum Tum, the 9-4 favourite, in the Betfair.com Conditions Stakes without ever looking like getting on top.

After Lucayan Dancer had set a good pace in the early stages of the seven-furlong contest, Prince Tum Tum was sent on by Fallon and gamely withstood Parkland's challenge.

''He's stuck to his guns well. He was in front a fair way out and he kept going,'' said trainer John Dunlop's travelling head lad Robert Hamilton.

''I'd imagine he might run again this season if there's the right race to run him in. He'd get a mile wouldn't he? Hopefully, there'll be another race for him,'' he added.

Fallon rode a tremendous waiting race in front to make all on Contraband in the EBF Classified Stakes.

He dictated affairs on the evens favourite and ran out a smooth 2-length winner from Hughes' mount Team-Mate.

''He may run again this season but he needs quick ground,'' said trainer William Haggas's travelling head girl Elizabeth Budden.

Hughes hit back with a near 48-1 double on Surprise Encounter and Avoidance in successive races.

Surprise Encounter returned to the kind of form that saw him win last year's Royal Hunt Cup to lift the Jubilee Rated Stakes. In a tightly-knit seven-furlong Showcase Handicap, the 12-1 chance held Inchdura by a neck with Attache a length back in third.

''He's run some not-so-good races in the visor so we took it off and he's stuck his head out,'' said trainer Ed Dunlop's travelling head lad Alex Nicholson.

''On his old form he would have looked a good thing, but we've had a bad year,'' he added.

Avoidance (11-4) followed up an Epsom victory with a promising two-length win over Darley's mount Linby Lad in the Green Howards Cup.

''She won at Epsom and hated the track. Today, the extra furlong and the flat galloping track was always going to suit her because she is such a good mover,'' said Geoff Snook, travelling head to trainer Barry Hills.

''She's still a bit weak in the leg and she should be a nice filly next year and I think she'll stay well.''

Darley reached a century of winners on turf for the ninth time in the last ten campaigns when taking the opening Clifton Ings Claiming Stakes on Irish Distinction.

But followers of the 2000 champion jockey may not have known that Darley was aboard the 14-1 chance as he only came in for the ride as the booked rider Neil Callan cried off after injuring his knee at Lingfield on Wednesday.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.