BEVERLEY'S Hilary Needler Stakes has produced some brilliant fillies in the past and Percolator (7.35) looks set to maintain that grand tradition.

The subsequent Royal Ascot and dual 1,000 Guineas heroine, Attraction, won the race in 2003, footsteps in which Percolator would dearly love to tread.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so Nelson de Souza's mount must continue the rapid progress she's shown by scoring at Lingfield and Longchamp.

The latter success, achieved when blitzing her French rivals by six lengths, was truly astonishing and if reproduced she's the nearest thing to a racing certainty you're likely to get.

The stamina-sapping uphill climb to the winning post holds no fears for Caffari, fancied to complete a course and distance double in the opener.

Karl Burke's tailed off threeyear- old looked a lost cause at half-way on her latest visit to the track, but then the fireworks started. Making up ground handover- fist from the rear, Caffari (6.35) stormed past the leaders inside the final 100 yards to grab the spoils right on the wire.

Rider Fergus Sweeney gave his supporters heart-failure by leaving it so late, however I anticipate a more comfortable victory in this evening's contest.

Karl has another likely winner in the guise of Speedy Sam, a front-runner for the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap.

Speedy Sam (8.35) only has to shoulder a 6lbs penalty for his recent Leicester triumph, which means on his smart form of 12 months ago he's still well-in at the weights.

Few jockeys are more effective at the venue than Joe Fanning, who'll have to be at his best to ensure Always Brave overcomes the coffin-box draw.

Parked on the wide outside in a field of 11 is not ideal, but Fanning should be up to the task, hopefully flying from gates and getting over to the far rail.

At least Always Brave (7.05) normally lives up to his name, rarely throwing in the towel when the going gets tough at the business end of affairs.

Anyone nipping over for Cartmel's jumps' fixture will doubtless take note of the "Mighty McCoy" aboard Mr Ed (4.00).

Although trainer Peter Bowen had a winter to forget, the spring has brought better results and the potential of getting Mr Ed back on the winning trail.

The ten-year-old has been known to race lazily, which is where McCoy fits into the equation because he'll push and shove all day long if necessary.

The sharp left-handed track doesn't suit all, but Danny Zuko (5.05), can take advantage of a drop in class in the Jewson Novices' Hurdle.