SIR MARK PRESCOTT, who came unstuck in last Saturday's Betfred Ebor Handicap, can make his presence felt at Thirsk today for considerably less rewards.

Prescott saddles Deauville Dancer in the £7,500 A For Agency Handicap following a Knavesmire bid which saw his hot favourite Pallasator finish only fourth in Europe's richest handicap, which ironically fell to Mutual Respect, a horse trained by Prescott last season but now under the care of Johnny Murtagh in Ireland.

Deauville Dancer is a typical Prescott slow-burn improver.

Unplaced in three races last year as a juvenile, the gelding has since struck form in handicap company, upped in trip. He has won his last two races, over one and three-quarter miles at Nottingham and at Chepstow more recently when tackling two miles.

Deauville Dancer faces two miles again this afternoon and is fancied to complete a hat-trick of wins for Prescott with Luke Morris in the saddle.

Adam's Ale narrowly came up short at Ripon on his latest start when beaten a head by Silvanus, also trained by Paul Midgley in a race named in honour of the late David Chapman.

It would have been most fitting if Adam's Ale had won that race given that he is owned by Muriel Hills, David's sister, who also owned the great Soba, the horse who will be forever synonymous with her trainer-brother at Stillington.

Adam's Ale bids for compensation in the Theakston Lightfoot Handicap. He has leading claims on his latest effort and previous form this season.

The question mark is whether he can defy a high draw. Fortunately for him with such a big field, he will be able to race near the inside rail and not in the middle of the course. He is fancied to pull it off on a track where most sprint winners admitedly come down the stands rail. Robert Winston rides.

In the JW 4X4 Northallerton Handicap, Iceblast is taken to resume winning ways.

Mick Easterby's charge, a winner at Catterick last month, has since run respectably in two amateur riders' races. He has Graham Gibbons back on board today, plus he's back to his best trip of seven furlongs. He is awarded the nap vote.

Ahoy There may be the answer to the Racing UK Android App racinguk.com/mobile Handicap over a mile.

Trained at Hazlewood near Tadcaster by Tom Tate. Ahoy There has had only one outing this season, finishing second to the in-form Strictly Glitz on this course earlier in the month. A Nottingham winner last autumn, Ahoy There should have benefited from his recent comeback outing and is selected to go one better. Andrew Elliott again has the mount.

Richard Fahey, one of 20 trainers who will be opening their doors to the public on Sunday from 9am at the Malton Stables' Open Day, sends Imshivalla to Sandown in a bid to provide her with yet another winning opportunity.

The filly has been in unstoppable form lately, winning her last three races, all at Pontefract. A 6lb penalty will make life harder for her this afternoon, especially in such a tough-looking race as the £15,000 ROA Owners Jackpot Handicap, but Tony Hamilton's mount is impossible to ignore in her current form.

Fahey runs Perardua, with Ryan Moore aboard in the opening Orleans Nursery Handicap, but much as the recent Ripon winner should run well, Profitable may live up to his name by coming out on top.

A winner on this course on his penultimate start, Clive Cox's smart colt went down by only half a length to Squats at Haydock last time out. He can get back on top returning to this Esher course. Adam Kirby rides.

James Doyle has a couple of good chances on the card.

Kingman's jockey rides the promising Time Test (3.00), beaten only a neck on his debut at Newbury after being sent off an odds-on favourite, and also Ski Lift (4.45), a fluent winner at Yarmouth earlier in the month.

Selections

Thirsk today

2.10 Westhoughton, 2.40 Referendum, 3.15 Iceblast (NAP), 3.50 Compton Park, 4.25 Henke, 4.55 Deauville Dancer, 5.25 Rangi Chase, 5.55 Ahoy There.

Sandown today

2.00 Profitable, 2.30 Indian Tinker, 3.00 Time Test, 3.35 Imshivalla, 4.10 Brown Diamond, 4.45 Ski Lift.

Today's other meetings

Bangor, Salisbury and Worcester.

Tomorrow's meetings

Bath, Beverley, Chester, Marjet Rasen, Newton Abbot and Sandown.