There aren't many big races in the calendar that have eluded master trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

However, the John Smith's Cup (formerly the Magnet Cup) is one of the more prestigious races that hasn't as yet had Stoute's name etched into its history.

Stoute can rectify matters at York this afternoon with the lightly-raced and progressive Leadership.

The son of Selkirk has won two of his six outings to date, including over this extended mile and a quarter trip, but he showed he was still on the upgrade with a tremendous run at Royal Ascot.

On that occasion he just found the mile-and-a-half trip beyond him, so the drop back to this trip on goodish ground will be very much to his liking.

Runner-up Highest went on to win at Ascot yesterday and a couple of the horses that finished behind him that day have since come out and run creditably, so the form looks rock-solid.

The draw also looks to have been kind to Stoute's runner as low numbers are very much favoured, even over middle distances, at this course.

His ability to race handily will be a big asset here as he should hopefully avoid the usual trouble that coming from behind in a field of this size invariably brings.

Northern racegoers will be very familiar with the progressive Kelburne and he too is entitled to go close from his stall-two draw.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that he has run moderately on both his outings at this course so he can only be an each-way consideration this time.

I Cried For You will be a danger but connections seem determined to drop him out in his races and he'll need everything to go just right if the same tactics are adopted here.

Beauchamp Pilot and Pasithea come here in good form and are likely to be popular but their respective 19 and 20 draws are offputting.

Bigger dangers could be Vintage Premium from the in-form Richard Fahey stable and Alec Stewart's progressive Rasm.

John Smith's Cup forecast: 1 Leadership (nap); 2 Vintage Premium; 3 Rasm; 4 I Cried For You.

It's been a wretched season for Tim Etherington but his Regal Song provided him with a much-needed fillip at Hamilton recently.

And his well-handicapped mare Lydia's Look could well be another winner for the Malton handler in the Tote Placepot Fillies Handicap over five furlongs at Nottingham this afternoon.

Etherington's sprinter, who usually comes to hand at this time of year, shaped as though a return to winning ways was imminent at Hamilton on ground softer than ideal on her penultimate start.

And although below that level at Pontefract last time, she shouldn't be judged too harshly on that form as she wasn't well drawn and the stiff six at that course seemed to find her out.

The return to this trip on this flat course will suit and she'll get the race run to suit with a couple of confirmed front-runners in opposition.

Back at York, Starbeck, whose only win to date has been at this course, looks an interesting runner in the Kronenbourg 1664 Handicap over seven furlongs.

James Bethell's horses are in good form and the filly caught the eye when staying on from an uncompromising position at Pontefract last time.

The return to this trip is sure to suit, as is this easy ground, and if she can be ridden closer to the pace than on that occasion from this low draw, then she could go well at decent odds.

Following in-form sprinters is always sensible and Full Spate, in tremendous form of late, is taken to win the competitive-looking Miller Beer Handicap over six furlongs.

Milton Bradley's sprinter goes on any ground and is reunited with Kevin Darley following smooth wins at Doncaster and Hamilton.

Bradley can be on the mark at Ascot with Salviati, who can put a below-par run behind him in the Doubleprint Handicap.

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