Top Dirham, who bounced back to winning form at Thirsk at the beginning of the month, can ring the bell at Carlisle tomorrow.

Sponsored by Permisson Homes, and with more than £20,000 in prize money, the Carlisle Bell is one of the most historic races in the calendar and this one mile handicap attracts a competitive field.

Top Dirham, a former high-class handicapper when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has had one or two problems since then but Mick Easterby, who has trained him for the last couple of seasons, has clearly got the bottom of them, judged by the gelding's latest success.

Well-supported in the market, Top Dirham romped home a stylish winner in the hands of Dale Gibson, who takes the mount again tomorrow.

The six-year-old has more on his plate than at Thirsk, but remains a well-handicapped horse.

The £10,000 Persimmon Homes Handicap is the principal supporting event, and What-A-Dancer should not be overlooked.

The six-year-old is a pretty capable performer at his best and it is significant that his trainer Alan Swinbank now seems to have his string back in good form after a virus scare for more than a month.

Acceleration does not exactly live up to his name, being a fairly slow three-year-old maiden. But Sir Mark Prescott's gelding can surely break his duck by winning the Persimmon Homes Maiden Handicap over an extended two miles.

At Salisbury, Pat Eddery, who yesterday announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season, score on the promising Red Trance in the Weyhill Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Kieren Fallon can win the £25,000 Tote Trifecta Bibury Cup, on Starry Lodge Winner of three of his four starts this season, Starry Lodge was impressive when bounding home under Fallon last time out.

Henry Candy looks to have found a good opportunity for Shebeen in the Goadsby & Harding Fillies' Handicap. Dane O'Neill's mount will be hard to beat and is awarded my Nap vote.

Tomorrow's tips

CARLISLE

2.30 Sutter's Fort, 3.05 Time To Regret, 3.35 Top Dirham, 4.05 What-A-Dancer, 4.35 Acceleration, 5.05 Bollin Jeannie.

Salisbury

2.10 Red Trance, 2.45 Elegant Shadow, 3.15 Starry Lodge, 3.45 Shebeen (Nap), 4.15 Wessex, 4.45 Steel Cat.

KEMPTON

Televised races: 6.30 Bahrqueen, 7.00 Well Chosen, 7.30 Love In The Mist, 8.00 Persario.

BATH

Televised races: 6.45 Tom Bell, 7.15 Shore Vision, 7.45 Fine Silver, 8.15 Bell Bottom Blues.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Southwell.

Updated: 12:23 Tuesday, June 24, 2003