Twelve months ago, he was fancied for this valuable race but a combination of soft ground and a bad draw resulted in him finishing only seventh to Juniper Girl.

Tompkins by-passed a hurdling campaign with him because he rated the five year old so highly and that decision has already paid dividends.

On his reappearance at Ascot, he was clearly on the backward side but, with the benefit of that run behind him, put in a sound effort at Haydock when Tommy Queally rode a perfectly judged race to get him up on the line for a nose win over Colloquial.

Tompkins has been fine-tuning Gee Dee Nen since then on the Limekilns and, even though cases can be made out for the Godolphin challenger Eastern Anthem, Highland Legacy and the Ascot Stakes fourth Bukit Tinggi, Gee Dee Nen is great each-way value at his current odds.

His ex-stable companion the Royal Ascot winner Missoula is likely to be his main danger.

PETER Chapple-Hyam's Brave Prospector eventually lost his maiden tag in fine style, when trotting up in a hot York sprint last time out.

He beat Victorian Bounty by a length and a half and should be able to make the step up into Gr 3 territory with a win in the Journal Chipchase Stakes.

Later in the afternoon, Michael Jarvis's Tasdeer could make his long journey north pay off with a win in the toteswinger Handicap.

THIS afternoon, on the opening day of the big Newcastle meeting, do not look any further than Michael Jarvis's improving filly Ghaidaa for the winner of the European Breeders fund/National Express Hoppings Stakes.

After a highly-promising Salisbury debut, she coasted home three and a half lengths clear of the Siyasa at Newbury.

Her work since then confirms her continuing progress and this half-sister to the Oaks winner Eswarah should increase her already considerable paddock value by landing this Listed Race.

SIR Michael Stoute's Tartan Bearer ran a cracker to finish second to New Approach in the Derby and takes the winner on again in the Irish Sweeps Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Dante Stakes winner looked all over the winner as Ryan Moore brought him down the middle of the track at Epsom but New Approach found a gap nearer the rails to get up close home and win by half a length.

That was only his third run, and now that Tartan Bearer is more streetwise, he can turn the tables on his Epsom conqueror.

GEORGE Margarson's progressive handicapper Totoman will be backed to make it two wins from three starts this season in the Aristocracy Handicap at Newmarket tomorrow.

After his impressive eight lengths win from the useful Director's Chair at Yarmouth, Margarson had considered taking the Royal Ascot route.

However, he decided that would be asking too much of the young horse and this more conservative route could see Totoman running up a sequence of wins until he has the experience to step up in class.

AT FOLKESTONE this afternoon, go with Gay Kelleway's ultra-game Punching, who is fancied to complete a hat-trick following wins at Brighton and Windsor.

Julia Feilden's horses are in great form and it could pay to side with King Columbo in the Nicholas Humphries Estate Agents Handicap at Leicester this evening.

He was only narrowly beaten by Naughty Frida on his reappearance at Kempton and as that run has tightened him up he should go one better.

ON THE home front tomorrow evening, go with Marco Botti's penalised Avertis in the NGK Spark Plugs Handicap and Sir Mark Prescott's well bred Algarade in the newmarket racecourses.co.uk Handicap to land a July Course double.

On Saturday's Newmarket programme, Tom Keddy's Piscean could pop up at decent odds in the newmarket racecourses.co.uk Handicap and PJ O'Gorman's course winner Sintenis Mac can follow up in the Newmarket Nights Apprentice Handicap.