River Crossing, who made a winning debut at Redcar recently, is napped to follow-up at Haydock tomorrow.

The Tim Easterby-trained filly goes for the Eurowrap Novice Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs and Dave Allan again has the mount.

Despite starting at 20-1 at Redcar, River Crossing was far from unfancied, having apparently impressed greatly in her home-work.

On the negative side, she had proved quite troublesome in the stalls at home, an aversion which delayed her debut. At Redcar, however, she behaved perfectly and won cleverly.

There is, it seems, much more to come from this talented two-year-old, who is fancied to oblige again tomorrow. Alas, she will not start at 20-1 this time.

Goodbye Mr Bond is selected to win the Dalkia Handicap. Another of Allan's mounts, the gelding goes into tomorrow's race in good form, having found only Heartshead too strong in last week's Carlisle Bell, a race Goodbye Mr Bond won last season.

Nessen Dorma should go well in the Faucets For Mira Showers Handicap over one and threequarter miles.

James Given's four-year-old is running consistently well at present and just failed to beat Valance in last week's Cumberland Plate at Carlisle. He has good prospects of going one better over tomorrow's longer distance.

Clara Bow, who has shown plenty of promise this season, may find opportunity to break her duck in the David Hardie Racegoers' Club Competition Winner Maiden Stakes.

At Yarmouth, Langton trainer Nigel Tinkler can score with Bright Sun in the Marthpro Handicap.

The four-year-old horse has been running well lately, not least at Thirsk on his most recent outing when he was narrowly beaten after rallying in fine style.

A keen-going sort, he needs to settle in order to produce his best. Let's hope tomorrow he gets the strong gallop he needs to help him relax.

Andrew Elliott is making a name for himself this season and the 7lb claimer should make a bold bid on Lucys Lady in the Banham Poultry Selling Stakes.

Elliott was in the saddle when Lucys Lady won at Haydock, and she has run creditably in defeat in both her subsequent starts. She can resume winning ways here for Middleham trainer Karl Burke, Elliott's boss.

Burke and Elliott can also win the HKB Wiltshires Legal Services Handicap with Platinum Charmer.

Winner of his last four races, most recently at Musselburgh on Monday night, the gelding is in cracking form and can complete a nap-hand of victories here.

Country Reel, winner of the 2002 Gimcrack Stakes, has been retired to stud in Australia, it was announced today.

His York triumph came on only the second start of his career after he had made a winning debut.

Country Reel was trained at that time by David Loder and then joined the Godolphin team but never won again.

Thursday's tips

Haydock

2.20 Nessen Dorma, 2.50 King Alfie, 3.20 River Crossing (Nap), 3.50 Divine Spirit, 4.20 Goodbye Mr Bond, 4.50 Clara Bow.

Yarmouth

2.30 Votsi, 3.00 Lucys Lady, 3.30 Moors Myth, 4.00 Bright Sun, 4.30 Estrelle, 5.00 Platinum Charmer.

Tomorrow's other race meetings are at Epsom (evening, Flat), Newbury (evening, Flat) and Perth (afternoon, National Hunt).

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, June 29, 2005