JOHN QUINN'S two-year-olds are virtually always worthy of respect and York-bound Linby Lad (4.00) is no exception.

On the evidence of the bare form - a narrow success in a run-of-the-mill Musselburgh maiden - Linby Lad's prospects of lifting the Green Howards Cup appear relatively slim.

But in a week when racing circles have already been hit by various bombshells courtesy of the Panorama team, one more minor shock will not make too many more waves.

At least we do know Linby Lad will both stay the one-mile trip plus handle the fast ground on the Knavesmire having encountered identical conditions when opening his account at the Scottish track.

Another factor in the selection's favour is the presence of Kevin Darley in the saddle. Tactically Darley has few peers at York and if there are any chinks in the armour of the more fancied horses in the race, such as the Barry Hills' trained Avoidance, he'll take full advantage aboard Quinn's improving youngster.

John Dunlop, still pound-for-pound many race fans' idea of a model racehorse trainer, looks good to notch a double via Zaajel (2.30) and Prince Tum Tum (3.00).

The veteran Arundel handler, who survived a near fatal arterial burst this year, isn't the sort of guy to send his horses all the way up from west Sussex unless he reckons they have the class to do the job.

As far this column is concerned it has been a season of near-misses regarding nap selections and Zaajel was yet another example when beaten by a nostril at Kempton last time out.

Zaajel is not only a good-looking colt, he's also got a wonderful pedigree, and it would be a major surprise if the son of Unfuwian is not back on the winning trail before long.

Although Prince Tum Tum only won by a head at Warwick last month, he actually had plenty left in the locker, suggesting the best is yet to come.

The most valuable race on the card, the £18,000 Showcase Handicap, features the return of Ayr Gold Cup fourth, Attache (3.30).

At Ayr, Attache was doing all of his best work inside the final furlong, so it's fair enough to speculate that the Michael Jarvis-trained four-year-old ideally needs today's slightly longer trip to show what he's really made of.

There are some real old dodge-pots and thieves in the opening mile-and-a-quarter Clifton Ings Claiming Stakes.

According to the official ratings, Desert Fury is in another parish compared with his rivals. However, Ben Hanbury's gelding is totally unproven beyond eight furlongs and I would rather rely on Paul Cole's Smoothie (2.00).

Smoothie's career looked to be going places following an impressive brace of back-to-back mid-season wins. Unfortunately he hasn't managed to build on that success, nevertheless Richard Quinn's mount is now taking on a modest bunch over his optimum distance and favoured fast surface.

* Andy Turnell sent Noble Pasao on the long trek from Malton to Lingfield yesterday and the move paid off when the 8-1 chance landed the betdirect.co.uk Showcase Handicap. But it was a very close call.

Fergal Lynch dropped the five-year-old out at the back of the 15-runner field and coming off the home turn in the 12-furlong contest Noble Pasao still had a lot to do. But the winner found a good run through to lead at the furlong pole.

Noble Pasao was challenged and overtaken by Mystic Forest inside the last but rallied gamely to get back up and land the spoils by a short head.

Lynch said: ''I was told to sit handy but I just thought they went pretty quick.

''He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse and he settled very easily so I just took a pull and took my chance.

''I was just worried about getting through but I was lucky.''

Expensive purchase Dubai Lightning got off the mark at the second time of asking in the first division of the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes.

The yearling arrived at York last month with a tall reputation and was backed down to odds-on but could only manage to finish a two-and-half-length second to subsequent Group Three winner Governor Brown.

However, he made amends yesterday when sent off at 1-4 with a comfortable one-and-three-quarter-length success from Zeuss

Frankie Dettori had the David Loder-trained youngster quickly into his stride from his outside draw in stall 16.

The son of Seeking The Gold settled at the head of affairs and only needed to be pushed out from the final turn to score in good style.

Loder's travelling head lad Ricky Bowman said they were delighted to get a win into the horse and he would be a lot better next year.

The second division went to another promising sort when John Gosden's Texas Hill quickened nicely for Jimmy Fortune to beat newcomer Desert View by one and a half lengths.

Eddie Ahern gave Pancakehill a determined ride to land the Bet Direct Premiership Singles Selling Stakes but picked up a two-day ban for his efforts on the Gerard Butler-trained colt.

He was found guilty of careless riding by the local stewards and will not be riding on October 18 and 21 as a result.

* Tacitus is set to make his long-awaited return to the track at the Curragh on Sunday.

Richard Hannon's smart juvenile has not been seen since finishing second to Mister Links in the July Stakes at Newmarket, missing a subsequent intended start in the Phoenix Stakes having been found to be cast in his box.

Fast ground has since prevented him from taking up a number of intended engagements but an encouraging forecast across the Irish sea means he is set to take his chance in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes over a mile at the weekend.

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