SHERIFF Hutton trainer Mick Easterby, so close, yet so far from completing a notable double in Carlisle's two summer feature races last year, returns to Cumbria tomorrow with excellent prospects of going all the way this season.

Top Dirham, winner of the £25,000 Carlisle Bell a year ago, bids for an encore, while Sporting Gesture, narrowly denied in last season's Cumberland Plate, turns out again in a bid to go one better.

Sporting Gesture carries my Nap vote to open his seasonal account in this £25,000 handicap, sponsored by the Tote, following a creditable fourth-placed effort at York recently.

That performance came in the Queen Mother's Cup for lady amateurs, which Sporting Gesture had won last year.

This time, however, things did not quite pan out right for him. Short of room as he was trapped in behind the principals in the closing stages, Sporting Gesture had to settle for a minor prize.

Paul Mulrennan, Easterby's very talented apprentice jockey, takes over the mount tomorrow.

The gelding is probably marginally more effective on a left-handed track, but I strongly fancy him to make up for his narow defeat in this race last year, and for his recent Knavesmire effort.

Top Dirham was slightly disappointing on his latest outing at York, but lack of early pace in a race which developed into a sprint finish, counted against him that day as he stepped up to ten furlongs.

The return to a mile on a climbing track should suit the Sheriff Hutton gelding to a tee tomorrow and he is fancied to ring the bell for a second year in a race sponsored by Carlisle Glass.

The promising Twice Nightly, trained by James Bethell, has shown promise in both his outings this season. He can make it third-time-lucky by winning the Border Construction Maiden Stakes.

King of Love is, significantly, Mark Johnston's representative from a host of entries in the Scottish & Newcastle Maiden Stakes and the hint should be taken, while the speedy Treasure Cay is selected to keep Kevin Darley firmly in the spotlight by defying top-weight in the Saffie Joseph & Sons Handicap.

At Salisbury, Selebela will not be short of supporters in the totetrifecta Bibury Cup over a mile and a half.

Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani has placed Selebela to rattle-up a hat-trick of wins, her latest success coming over this course and distance when she beat Anyhow by a comfortable four lengths.

Still ahead of the handicapper, Selebela can defy a 5lb penalty in this £25,000 event.

Wednesday's tips:

Carlisle

2.20 Twice Nightly, 2.50 King of Love, 3.20 Top Dirham, 3.50 Sporting Gesture (Nap), 4.20 Heneseys Leg, 4.50 Treasure Cay.

Salisbury

2.10 Right Answer, 2.40 Alqwah, 3.10 Selebela, 3.40 La Vie Est Belle, 4.10 Flowerdrum, 4.40 Alfridini.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Bath (evening, Flat), Kempton (evening, Flat) and Worcester (afternoon, National Hunt).

Updated: 12:14 Tuesday, June 22, 2004