Easterby can open with double

Punters can get off to a flying start at this week's three-day York meeting by supporting Crystal Falls to land the opening Yorkshire Life Magazine Stakes.

Crystal Falls looked most unlucky in defeat when beaten three-parts of a length by Mowelga at Doncaster last week and, off the same mark, looks like the proverbial "winner without a penalty" here.

Checked in his run throughout the final furlong and a half, he was not only unlucky not to get his head in front but had looked as if he would come on for the race and looks difficult to oppose with Tim Easterby's string going well.

Probably still improving, having been gelded at the end of last term, there is no reason why his shrewd handler cannot place Crystal Falls to take this prize - and a couple of other decent handicaps - before the season is out.

In contrast, Pipalong is a sharp and early sort, but is held in high regard by Easterby and looks likely to retain her unbeaten record - and complete a stable double - in the EBF Novice Fillies' Stakes.

Midnight Line can strengthen her position towards the head of the ante-post market for next month's Vodafone Oaks and enhance her stud value whilst picking up some decent money on the way by landing the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

This contest is traditionally an excellent trial for the Epsom fillies' Classic, and Midnight Line can follow in the hoofprints of fellow Henry Cecil-trained filly Reams Of Verse, who was sent out from Cecil's Warren Place stables to win this contest last year before going on to Oaks glory.

Midnight Line will not represent any great value in this small field but should not be opposed here, and punters seeking to get involved would be better advised to seek out an ante-post price for the Oaks itself.

Venture Capitalist is the one to be on in the Guilbert Ofrex Rated Stakes. The nine-year-old was all wrong last term, but trainer Dandy Nicholls reports him now back to his best, and on the pick of his form in the most competitive sprint handicaps of 1996, he would look attractively weighted.

After a pipe-opener at Thirsk, Venture Capitalist ran encouragingly when fourth at Beverley on Saturday, beating more-fancied stable companion Ya Malak a place and he should prove much more effective over this stiff six-furlong trip.