Bollin Roberta, who is shaped as though coming to hand of late and hails from the in-form stable of Tim Easterby, looks the one to be on in the Countrywide Freight Handicap over a mile at Pontefract this evening.

A winner over seven furlongs at Musselburgh last year, the four-year-old ran her best race of the year when under two lengths fifth to Swynford Welcome at Haydock last time.

And that form has worked out really well with Pengamon and Bodfari Anna, the second and third respectively, winning their next outings in handicaps.

The step up to a mile looks sure to be in her favour and the filly is taken to beat Steve Gollings' Caution who has been running consistently well of late.

David Nicholls' Flak Jacket who was touched off in an apprentice race at Doncaster on Wednesday evening, can go one better in the Weatherbys Injured Jockeys Fund Classified Stakes.

That represented the five-year-old's best effort for his current trainer and now he has found some form, he can be expected to improve.

Nicholls can also be on the mark with Double Oscar, who is back in his customary blinkers in the Antonia Deuters Handicap over five furlongs.

The seven-year-old has been running really well of late and got off the mark for the year when just getting up at Newcastle last time.

That was a meritorious effort as he was one of the few horses to successfully come from behind in the sprints at that particular meeting and as a result is almost certainly better than his current rating suggests.

At Southall in the afternoon Mick Easterby can be on the mark with Middlethorpe in the Bet Direct From Littlewoods Handicap over a mile-and-a-half.

Although he has yet to race on this surface, the gelding, who won at Beverley last month, has shown a marked preference for a bit of cut in the ground on turf and so it's a fair bet he should handle this ground.

Bryan McMahon's team have been in good form of late and his Nominator Lad has prospects in the Bet Direct On 0800 211 222 Handicap over a mile.

This fairly useful turf handicapper ran his best race of the year when fourth to the in-form pair Guilsborough and Robbie's Dream over course and distance last week and a reproduction of that will give him solid claims here.

At Hamilton's evening fixture Eastern Prophets, who has recently looked to be coming back to form, should go well in the Amateurs Riders Handicap over six furlongs.

The seven-year-old caught the eye when finishing strongly at Beverley earlier in the week and this extra furlong is sure to be in his favour.

Arizona Lady has been running well of late and should make a bold bid to make all from her favourable high draw in the Hamilton Park 2000 Handicap over one mile and one furlong.

At Newmarket James Fanshaw's Glowing should appreciate the return to the six furlongs of the Fillies Handicap at 7.25.

The five-year-old did her best work in the closing stages over the minimum trip at Nottingham last time and this stiff uphill finish should also help.

l Kieren Fallon is hoping to make an earlier-than-expected return to riding action, it emerged yesterday.

The three-times champion jockey has been on the sidelines since sustaining an injury to his left shoulder in a pile-up in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.

The injury was so serious that he could have lost the use of his left arm had a quick decision to operate not been made.

He was not expected to return until next year.

However, Fallon said: ''I am having the protective sleeve taken off my left arm in two weeks and after that I shall be doing a lot of physio.

''The tingling sensation has gone from the fingers in my left arm and I would like to think I can ride again at the end of the season, only if it's for a month or so.''

He went on: ''I realised what I was missing when I was out on the Heath at Newmarket on Wednesday morning.

"Watching the really good two-year-olds working there gave me a great lift.

"Knowing I'll be on them next year has spurred me on to aim for a return later this year.''

l RoyaL Artist, a half-brother to Saturday's Weatherbys Super Sprint hopeful Superstar Leo, was a credit to the family by turning the Alliance & Leicester Handicap at Leicester yesterday into a procession.

Willie Haggas' four-year-old won as an 11-10 favourite should by bolting clear of his 11 rivals to win as he liked by six lengths from Redswan with Saguaro a short-head away third.