Dandy can prove he is very handy.

Byline: Saraband

W ITH confidence boosted by a recent win, Godol-phin's Dandy Man rates the pick in the DFS Scarbrough Stakes on the first day of Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

The six-year-old has proved quite frustrating for the boys in blue after he looked certain to be one of the leading sprinters when purchased out of Tracey Collins' yard in Ireland.

Second in the 2007 King's Stand at Royal Ascot to Miss Andretti, he finished fourth in the same race the following year and both times looked to have been done no favours by the draw.

So often he has flattered to deceive but he was found a fairly uncompetitive sprint at Leicester for a horse of his calibre and never came out of second gear.

Sprinters often need their ego massaged and hopefully that should have done the trick.

Twice Over takes a big drop in class in the Debenhams Frenchgate Conditions Stakes after being trounced by wonder horse Sea The Stars last time.

It was no surprise to see Henry Cecil's charge beaten in the Eclipse Stakes but he was probably much further behind the leading players than perhaps expected. Although that run was disappointing, it could just have been one run too many in a busy period that had seen the fouryear-old finish third in the Lockinge and fourth in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. That kind of form puts Twice Over 8lb in front of his nearest rival on the official ratings and this race can prove the perfect stepping stone to next month's Champion Stakes.

Bond Fastrac was just touched off at York but can gain compensation in the Sainsbury's Frenchgate Conditions Stakes.

Geoff Oldroyd's charge was in front until the dying strides when Yurituni finished with a wet sail.

Previously a winner at Redcar in July, Bond Fastrac lost little in defeat and although he has a bit to find with Angel's Pursuit on the figures, he appeals as an unexposed type on the up.

SARABAND'S SELECTIONS DONCASTER: 2.00 Brick Red, 2.35 Bond Fastrac, 3.10 Twice Over, 3.45 Dandy Man (nap), 4.20 Broad Cairn, 4.50 Ocean Blaze, 5.25 The Tatling. EPSOM: 2.10 Bagamoyo, 2.45 Natural Law, 3.20 Funday, 3.55 Emperor Court, 4.30 Ettrick Mill, 5.00 Hi Shinko. KEMPTON: 5.50 Haling Park, 6.20 Angie's Nap, 6.50 Angel Song, 7.20 Lutine Charlie, 7.50 Pressing Matters, 8.20 The Scorching Wind, 8.50 Ottoman Empire, 9.20 Refuse Toulouse. UTTOXETER: 2.20 Happy New Year, 2.55 Joshua, 3.30 Coconut Beach, 4.05 Rajeh, 4.40 Celtic Boy, 5.10 Orchard King, 5.40 Knock Em Dead. DOUBLE: Dandy Man and Twice Over.