YORKSHIRE GALE, whose recent progress has been checked by some clumsy footwork, can put his knowledge of Sandown Park to good use by winning the Stag Handicap today.

Jumping errors on his previous two starts have prevented Josh Gifford's 10 year old from adding to his reappearance success at Cheltenham. But a win over course and distance gained last term means there will be no need for a map and compass as he seeks to iron out his fencing difficulties.

Yorkshire Gale began the current campaign on a high when lifting a £10,000 handicap chase at Cheltenham in December, despite looking burly and competing from 13lb out of the handicap.

The journey from Findon to Ascot for the Betterware Cup a fortnight later proved fruitless, as a blunder at the second fence gave McCoy no chance of staying aboard. And it was another jumping error at Kempton last time which cost him dear, as Yorkshire Gale clouted the 12th of the 19 fences and surrendered all chance of victory along with his lead, eventually finishing a distant last of four behind Toureen Prince.

Gifford's attack on the race is two pronged. Stablemate Run Up The Flag, a creditable third when 6 to 4 favourite at Cheltenham for Yorkshire Gale's seasonal debut, reopposes again and may give the selection most to do.

Lansdowne, who created such a favourable impression on his first outing for Paul Nicholls, can follow up in the Philip Barnard Memorial Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. Formerly with Gerald Ham, the bay took advantage of a drop in the weights by beating Mr Playfull by six lengths in a handicap hurdle at Wincanton last month. Even a 2lbs rise in the handicap may prove insufficient to stop him.