Champion trainer Sir Michael Stoute can shift his powerful team into top gear at his local course tomorrow by landing the two main races on the second day of the Craven meeting.

Sir Michael saddles Kalaman in the £50,000 Weatherbys Earl Of Sefton Stakes and will be represented by the unbeaten Top Romance in the Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes, which is worth an identical amount. Kieren Fallon, Sir Michael's number-one jockey, takes the mount on both runners.

Kalaman is on something of a retrieving mission in his Group 3 target, having ended last season under something of a cloud.

He had previously looked something special, winning his first two races in sparkling fashion before an unlucky defeat in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

After that, though, his form tailed-off, and he was particuarly disappointing in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York in August when he finished seventh of eight behind Falbrav.

Such was the level of promise Kalaman showed in the first half of last season, however, it would be a mistake to underestimate him on his return to action. The fact that he is still flying Sir Michael's flag is significant in itself.

Two runs and two wins was the outcome of Top Romance's juvenile campaign and this highly-rated filly now puts her Classic credentials on the line in a traditional stepping-stone to the 1,000 Guineas.

Top Romance is already a winner over this course and distance. She should make a bold bid in this 13-runner field.

Brunel, who showed a useful level of form last season, is worth more than a passing glance in the £30,000 Victor Chandler European Free Handicap. Darryll Holland teams-up with the William Haggas-trained three-year-old.

Three maiden races on the card set punters a poser, but worth noting in two of them are the well-touted newcomer Tumbaga (1.10) and the promising Relaxed (4.05), while in the Babarham Handicap, Wunderwood, who proved a useful money-spinner last season for Lady Herries, is fancied to start the new campaign on a winning note.

Beverley's opening meeting of the season is highlighted by the Flying Five Classified Stakes, a five-furlongs dash, boasting prize money of £14,000.

A decent bunch of sprinters will be facing the starter, and nothing makes more appeal than Caribbean Coral, who represents the John Quinn stable, which sent out a winner at Redcar yesterday.

A dual-winner last season for Chris Wall, Caribbean Coral looks the type of horse to do particularly well for Quinn, and there was much to like about his comeback run at Doncaster last month. He is awarded my Nap vote.

Dance Night, who made an encouraging start to his career at Doncaster's Lincoln meeting, when finishing a close-up second, will not be short of supporters as he bids to go one better in the beverley-racecourse.co.uk Maiden Auction Stakes. Graham Gibbons again has the mount on Bryan McMahon's juvenile.

Also worth noting is the Mick Easterby-trained Trouble Mountain, who bids to repeat his success of 12 months ago in the New Course Enclsoure Handicap.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Newmarket

1.10 Tumbaga, 1.45 Brunel, 2.20 Kalaman, 2.55 Top Romance, 3.30 Miss Cassia, 4.05 Relaxed, 4.40 Wunderwood.

Beverley

2.10 Nod's Nephew, 2.45 Dance Night, 3.20 Caribbean Coral (Nap), 3.55 Senor Bond, 4.30 Trouble Mountain, 5.05 Keep On Movin.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Cheltenham

Updated: 14:08 Tuesday, April 13, 2004