NATALIE Hambling had never ridden a winner up until a month ago – but she can take her tally to three on her first-ever Knavesmire mount this evening.

York follows on from Thirsk's afternoon programme to provide North Yorkshire racegoers with a double-helping of Friday action.

Hambling, who joined Richard Fahey's Malton yard last winter, teams up with NORMANDY KNIGHT in the Think As One Apprentice Handicap and will be hoping to add her to her recent successes on stablemates Personal Touch at Wolverhampton and Character Onesie at Chester.

Normandy Knight is a horse on the rise. He has won his last two races at Leicester and Beverley and remains on a competitive mark after being raised only 5lb for his latest success.

He will be well suited by the step up to one mile and one furlong and is fancied to provide Hambling with another winner in a race in which stable companion Hayley Irvine has her first-ever mount on Montefalcon.

Fahey has several other good chances throughout the evening, not least with HYLAND HEATHER in the Batleys Cash & Carry Maiden Stakes.

Narrowly beaten at Ripon on her debut before finishing sixth at Haydock, Hyland Heather has since benefited from a two-month break. She now steps up to seven furlongs, which should suit her in the hands of Tony Hamilton.

The £40,000 British Stallion Studs Lyric Stakes takes pride of place on the Knavesmire card and Luca Cumani is fancied to lift the spoils with PAMONA, the mount of Andrea Atzeni.

A useful filly, who has had only two outings this season, Pamona finished third to Curvy in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. She now tackles Listed company and is selected to take advantage in a competitive race.

The Clifton Park York's Specialist Orthopaedic Hospital Handicap over six furlongs offers SLEEPING APACHE the chance to resume winning ways.

Michael Dods' consistent gelding has run well on his last two starts behind Another Royal at Pontefract and Bashiba at Doncaster.

Both those races were over the minimum trip and Sleeping Apache is fancied to gain his revenge over those two rivals when stepping up to six furlongs this time. Paul Mulrennan rides.

Also worth noting are HE'S NO SAINT (8.00), one of David O'Meara's three runners in a handicap in which Fahey also saddles three – and who is visored for the first time – and CASTERBRIDGE (8.30), a slick winner at Haydock three weeks ago.

At Thirsk, Mark Johnston and Silvestre de Sousa can take the ebfstallions.com Maiden Stakes with AHDAF.

The juvenile has shown a decent level of ability in his two runs to date and can put his experience to good use in making it third-time lucky over five furlongs.

Kevin Ryan is fancied to lift the Sailun Tyres Nursery Handicap with DUTCH MIST, the mount of smart apprentice Shane Gray.

Winner of her last two races, including one on this course, Dutch Mist is progressing significantly and is taken to complete a hat-trick in this handicap.

Ryan also has good prospects with KYLACH ME IF U CAN in the Thirsk Ladies' Day Saturday September 5th Handicap.

Tom Eaves' mount chased home Father Bertie at Catterick last time out and has every chance of going one better.

In the concluding Racing Excellence 'Hands And Heels' Apprentice Handicap, SPEND A PENNY gets the vote to chalk up a belated first success.

John Quinn's gelding has had nine tries and finished second to Perfect Peak at Catterick recently. A reproduction of that form may be good enough to see him home in front this time. Callum Shepherd has the mount.