YALTA can take full advantage of a dip in class as he lines up in the Essex Sprint Handicap, one of the feature events on a quality evening card at Chelmsford.

Mark Johnston's charge has been battling away in the best company since he landed a fair conditions event at Pontefract last May.

Runs at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's July meeting yielded little joy subsequently but he enjoyed his day in the sun as he held off stablemate and subsequent Group One winner The Last Lion to win the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last July.

However, that career-best effort made the Exceed And Excel colt pretty tough to place, with Johnston trying him in the Nunthorpe before two more Group-race runs in the autumn left him similarly adrift.

Yalta shaped with much more promise on his return in the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot back in April, showing up well for a long way before having to settle for fifth, beaten four and a half lengths by Blue Point.

He was nowhere near repeating that form when last in the Commonwealth Cup but his lack of success has seen his mark drop back down to 105 and his three-year-old allowance gives him a little bit more leeway here too.

Clearly it is a bit of a leap of faith, as he is on a long losing run, but today's nap selection – ridden by James Doyle – certainly has a touch of class and the opposition is a couple of notches down on what he has been facing.

LESHLAA was not far off in a competitive heat at Newmarket last time out and it would be no surprise if he could make amends in the Moulsham Mile Handicap.

The three-year-old was beaten just over two lengths by Marzouq at Headquarters, with his rider having made an early bid for home which failed to pay dividends as he could not kick on again at the finish.

His previous run when fifth in the Britannia showed just how handy an animal he could be and, given he won on the Kempton Polytrack last November, the switch back from turf holds few fears, while jockey Edward Greatrex's 3lb claim could come in handy.

JALELA made it third time lucky when winning at Newmarket in May and she can make a victorious return from a break in the Monaghan Civil Engineering Ltd Handicap.

Richard Hannon gave his charge three quick runs at the start of the season so, after opening her account from a subsequent winner, it is no surprise she has been given a bit of breathing space since.

The form of that race may not be the strongest but the first two pulled well clear of the rest and it is to her credit that Jalela held on that day when the testing conditions were clearly not to her liking. Dane O'Neill takes the reins today.

KYLLANG ROCK can get his head back in front in the British Stallion Studs EBF Conditions Stakes as Tony Hamilton rides at Nottingham's evening meeting.

Winner of a three-year-old event at this track in April, Kyllang Rock has subsequently been beaten by narrow margins in Listed events at York and Haydock, before disappointing back on the Knavesmire in July.

James Tate's runner slightly redeemed himself at Goodwood, finishing a fair sixth behind new sprint sensation Battaash in the King George Stakes.

Outpaced in the early stages, he did not enjoy the clearest of passages but kept on well enough and the terms of this race certainly put him at a distinct advantage.