FAHEY: BATTLE ON FOR TOP SPOT AT YORK

It's been a busy week at the Tattersalls Sales and the trade is unbelievably strong. At the time of writing we've got four bought and I hope to add to that but it will be tough.

It's a big weekend for me with the final meeting of the season at York. That's my track and there's a real tussle on to finish top trainer for 2011 there. It's going to be tight but we'll be doing our best! Here's my guide to the Saturday team:

We run two in the opening Bet On Your Mobile With Coral E.B.F. 'Sakhee' Maiden Stakes with Paul (Hanagan) on Mickdaam. He's a horse we like but he disappointed at Goodwood last time when he didn't really handle the track. He's a nice horse and will be a better three-year-old but we'll run him again and see what happens. He'll spend the winter in Dubai before the owner decides whether he comes back to us or is campaigned by Mike De Kock next year.

Northern Jewel is another who will be better at three but we need to get another run into her. She ran better at Beverley the last day so we'll hope for the best.

Baldemar goes in the coral.co.uk Handicap and while it might be sharp enough for him over five furlongs, there aren't many races for these horses. We're ending up running them over the wrong trip to get races into them but he's in good order and we're happy with him. I hope he gets away with it but if I'd had a choice he'd have been running over six.

Robert The Painter is running into a bit of form ahead of the Green Tick For Better Odds At coral.co.uk Handicap. He's two pounds out of the handicap but is another suffering from a lack of opportunities. On his best form he'd have a chance.

We run three in the Coral Sprint Trophy including Castles In The Air. He was balloted out at Ascot last week and that's the race I wanted to go for as he likes the track.

He's been struggling to find top form but the handicapper has dropped him a few pounds. Six furlongs could be sharp enough for him but he's in good form at home and we'd be hopeful of a good run.

Paul is on Kaldoun Kingdom who was a little disappointing in the Ayr Gold Cup and then ran a little flat in a conditions race at Hamilton but is fresh which is always an advantage at this time of year. If the ground's not too quick he could run well.

Sioux Rising is at her limit off 96 and if she was placed we'd be delighted with her. It's a very open handicap and you could run it every week and get a different result. You just hope you get the rub of the green and win it with one of yours.

I think Paul has probably got it right in siding with Kaldoum Kingdom, he's the freshest horse, but it wouldn't have been an easy call.

Antigua Sunrise ran a good race at Haydock the other day but the handicapper has her to a T going into the Coldstream Guards Association Cup Handicap. Laura Barry did nothing wrong on her the other day so will take seven pounds off her and this mare is five or six pounds better at York than anywhere else. Hopefully she'll step up and run well.

Finally Flashman makes his debut in the 32Red Casino Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton. He's a big, backward horse who's going to make a three-year-old. He's a bit raw and needs the run to teach him what the job's about.

It's a tough day to find a nap so I'm going to switch to Friday and put up Ingleby Spirit who makes his debut over timber in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Novices' Hurdle at Carlisle.

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