TRAINER Roger Varian will have plenty of interest in today's evening meeting at York as AJMAN PRINCESS takes her chance in the Lyric Fillies' Stakes.

The four-year-old must give away weight to the full field but last season's Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up has some splendid form in safekeeping.

Third in the Lancashire Oaks and a Listed winner at Goodwood already this year, it is fascinating to see her line up over a mile and a quarter under Harry Bentley.

SILVER STARLIGHT should also be followed in a nursery handicap at Thirsk, where David Allan takes the reins.

Tim Easterby's grey filly won at Ripon in June and arguably produced just as good a performance when second in a fair sprint at York a fortnight ago.

The manner in which she galloped towards the finishing line on the Knavesmire tends to suggest this six-furlong trip will be just the ticket.

APPEARED looks good to go well as Silvestre De Sousa rides today's nap selection in the John Guest Handicap at Ascot.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi has come of age since he was gelded last autumn and should be considered a leading contender for this £30,000 affair over a mile and a half.

Appeared won really smartly upon his return to action in May, when he scooted four and a half lengths clear of Batts Rock over this course and distance.

Varian's inmate was given a huge rise in the handicap for that triumph, so it was little wonder connections turned towards Royal Ascot.

He did not let the side down either, as the impressive-looking gelding got to within two and a quarter lengths of Rare Rhythm in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.

That form looks impregnable as the winner has since collected Listed honours in the Silver Cup at York.

Appeared has gone up 3lb but it barely needs mentioning that this assignment is considerably easier – on paper, at least – than the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Varian runner perhaps might not want too much more rainfall but he looks a great deal better than most of these, no matter what the weather.

It will be interesting to see what the Newmarket handler plans to do with him if all goes to plan at Ascot.

The big race on the card, the Listed Valiant Stakes, looks a toughie but slight preference is for the bang-in-form MITTENS.

Sir Michael Stoute's filly is on a hat-trick and fully deserves a crack at this level, with David Probert booked in the saddle.

Whether she is good enough remains to be seen – but Mittens is unquestionably riding high and looked the part when she battered a strong enough field over course and distance on July 15.