It's already been another unforgettable season for Thirsk trainer David Nicholls.

The former jockey currently lies in the top ten in the trainers table with nearly 40 winners and over £670,000 in win and place prizemoney.

His sprinters are in cracking form at present and his Sailing Shoes looks another very interesting runner in the Battle Holm Handicap over five furlongs at Carlisle this afternoon.

Although he's not been the most consistent, he's better than his recent form figures would suggest as he ran a blinder from a poor draw at Newcastle two outings ago and the easy ground scuppered his chance at Hamilton.

However this stiff five furlongs on very quick ground will be very much to his liking and he's well drawn for one who likes to dominate in stall 11.

Nicholls also has prospects with Mister Rambo in the Swifts Handicap over seven furlongs but the vote goes to Celtic Mill, who will be suited by the conditions.

Following a good run from a poor draw at Haydock, David Barker's four-year-old came good on similar ground at Catterick last week.

Pontefract's evening fixture will be well attended as it's Red Shirt Night, made famous by former top trainer Jack Berry.

The best bet on the card could be Tommy Smith in the Antonia Deuters Rated Handicap over five furlongs.

The four-year-old's only defeat in his last four outings came on unsuitably soft ground and conditions here will be ideal. A three pound penalty is unlikely to prevent him supplementing last week's York win.

With Stuart Williams' horses in such good form it could pay to side with Larousse in the Tote Bookmakers Fillies Handicap over a mile and a half. A dual winner over this trip last year, he's not really been seeing out the mile and six trip on his last couple of outings so the return to this distance could be ideal.

At Newbury's afternoon fixture there's a good word for Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Lord in the opening European Breeders Fund Ecchinswell Novice Stakes over six furlongs.

The juvenile is a half-brother to the very smart Carnival Dancer and he's expected to make a winning debut here.

At Newmarket one to keep an eye on at decent odds could be Rainstorm, who ran well after missing the break at Pontefract last time and he's taken to go well in the lady riders handicap over a mile.

* Grandera has been trimmed by Coral to 15-8 (from 5-2) for next week's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes following good support for the four-year-old yesterday.

As a result, Coral have eased his Godolphin stablemate Sakhee to 13-8 from evens for the Ascot showpiece.

''With Sakhee's participation seemingly dependent on the going at Ascot, it appears punters have been looking at the weather forecast before backing the Godolphin horse that favours a quicker surface,'' said Coral's David Stevens.

''With summer finally here, I am sure all Sakhee supporters will now be praying for rain in the next week,'' added Stevens.

* Eoghan O'Neill's Newmarket raider Maranilla bids for his third major German success of the season in the Lotto Hessen Pokal over a mile and a quarter at Frankfurt on Sunday. John Egan's mount returns to the scene of his Group Three success in April, and renews rivalry with the the third Sergeant Pepper.

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