Santillana, trained by John Gosden, can upset the applecart by beating 1,000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime in the £35,000 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket today.

The five-year-old son of El Gran Senor may be ideally suited by slightly further than this nine furlongs but showed he was no back number last year by returning from a long absence to score a cosy success in a conditions event at Newmarket.

And, if retaining the kind of ability that saw him win the Thresher Classic Trial as a three-year-old he holds sound claims, receiving 5lb from Henry Cecil's filly.

Although disappointing when beaten in heavy conditions in Italy on his final start at four, Santillana should be suited by the forecast good to soft going here.

The Free Handicap looks a nightmare to work out, with many of the fancied contenders unproven with cut in the ground. Clive Brittain's Greenlander is the sort to improve at three and, proven on a soft surface, holds claims off a decent mark.

He seemed to lack gears when fourth to Xaar in the Prix De La Salamandre but this drop in class and the more suitable ground conditions give him a live chance in the hands of Pat Eddery.

Filial, who is in excellent form, is the one to have on your side in the 23-runner Babraham Handicap. Jeff Pearce's five-year-old has transferred consistent all-weather form to turf and won eased down at Ripon last week when beating Slasher Jack three-quarters of a length.

Today's meeting at Pontefract hinges on a 7 a.m. inspection following heavy snowfall at the Yorkshire track.