KEVIN Ryan can strike first blood at his local course tomorrow when Thirsk opens its doors for the first time in 2007.

The Hambleton trainer saddles Rievaulx Valentino in the opening Habton Novice Stakes and this speedily-bred two-year-old is napped to make a winning debut.

A son of Primo Valentino, out of Distinctly Blu, who was trained by Ryan, Rievaulx Valentino has the pedigree of a precocious juvenile and, well drawn, should take plenty of catching, representing a trainer, whose two-year-olds are really starting to fire.

Scorton trainer David Barker will be hoping that Boy Dancer gets away on terms with his rivals in the Bilsdale Handicap.

At Catterick on his latest start, Boy Dancer completely missed the break and appeared to lose more ground at the start than the four lengths in which he was beaten by Sir Orpen into fifth place.

Although not the most reliable of horses, Boy Dancer is worth another chance.

Empress Olga has run well on both her latest starts on the all-weather.

With trainer Ed Dunlop in such good form, she is fancied to land the Rosedale Handicap.

Glencairn Star, previously trained by Jim Goldie in Scotland, has now joined Richard Fahey at Malton and shaped well on his debut for his new handler at Navan last month.

A handy addition to Fahey's Musley Bank yard, Glencairn Star should not be overlooked in the Swainby Handicap.

Motu has every chance of landing the Hawnby Handicap.

Trained by Ian McInnes near Beverley, the six-year-old just failed to beat Dispol Isle at Musselburgh recently. He can go one better.

At Newbury, one of the feature races on the card is the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap over five furlongs.

Kevin Ryan has an interesting candidate here in Green Manalishi, who is a new recruit to his local yard, and who proved an admirable money-spinnner previously for trainer David Arbuthnot. Neil Callan has the mount.

Escape Route looks equally interesting in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap.

Trained by John Gosden, the three-year-old scored on his one and only outing as a juvenile at Lingfield. He has much more to offer this season.

Peter Chapple-Hyam has a useful squad of horses under his care this season, and the Newmarket trainer reputedly has some decent juveniles to go to war with in the coming weeks and months.

The first of his junior squad, Winker Watson lines-up for the Burges Salmon Maiden Stakes and this speedily-bred son of Piccolo deserves plenty of respect.


Racing selections

Tomorrow

Thirsk
2.00 Rievaulx Valentino (NAP), 2.30 Empress Olga, 3.05 Boy Dancer, 3.40 Motu, 4.15 Glencairn Star, 4.45 Onatopp, 5.20 Soccerjackpot.

Newbury
1.40 Winker Watson, 2.10 Escape Route, 2.40 Green Manalishi, 3.15 Monzante, 3.50 Folk Opera, 4.25 Spinneret, 4.55 Philatelist.

Tomorrow's other meetings: Lingfield (all-weather Flat), Ayr, Hereford (both National Hunt).

Today's meetings: Cheltenham (National Hunt), Newmarket, Ripon (both Flat).