Sir Michael Stoute, due to be represented by Russian Rhythm in Sunday's Sagitta 1,000 Guineas, can land the feature race under the same sponsors, at Newmarket tomorrow.

Stoute saddles Balakheri in the £100,000 Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes and Johnny Murtagh's mount is fancied to prevail.

Although Balakheri ran below form on his final start last season in the St Leger, he had previously beaten Bollin Eric, the Doncaster hero, in fine style at Royal Ascot.

Owned by the Aga Khan, Balakheri looks the type to progress into a high-class four-year-old.

Tomorrow's race promises to be a good starting point for him.

The possibility of rain easing the ground at Newmarket will be good news for Richard Fahey, who saddles the mud-loving Lady Bear in the Dahlia Listed Stakes for fillies and mares.

Although responsible for two respectable efforts this season, both those races were on far-from-ideal going and Lady Bear is capable of stepping up on easier ground.

With Paul Hanagan currently serving a suspension, Kevin Darley comes in for the ride on Lady Bear, whose chances of victory largely rest on the amount of rain that falls.

Clive Cox is not normally in the position to bid for a useful Newmarket prize, but the Lambourn trainer has every chance of landing the £20,000 tote.co.uk Handicap with the promising New Seeker.

Now running in his first handicap after three solid efforts in maiden company, the three-year-old figures at the right end of the weights and will have the services of Jimmy Quinn.

Henry Cecil had a winner at Pontefract yesterday, and the Warren Place trainer could enjoy another on his local course tomorrow, courtesy of the promising Play That Tune in the Thetford Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Up at Musselburgh, Mind Alert is napped to open his winning account in the East Lothian Council Maiden Stakes.

Tim Easterby's colt, who bypassed a warmer-looking race at Pontefract yesterday to wait for this prize, ran a race full of promise to finish fourth on his debut in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster in March. Robert Winston again has the mount.

Al Azhar should not be overlooked in the featured £10,000 Royal Bank Of Scotland Handicap.

Michael Dods' gelding finished fourth on his comeback outing at Doncaster six weeks ago and is perfectly capable of running an even bigger race here.

The speedy Stoic Leader (2-40) and the in-form Ile Michel (3-15) are two others to note.

Friday's tips:

Newmarket

1-10 Pinchincha; 1-45 Splendid Era; 2-20 Balakheri; 2-55 New Seeker; 3-30 Lady Bear; 4-05 Play That Tune; 4-40 Thingmebob

Musselburgh

2-05 Mind Alert (NAP); 2-40 Stoic Leader; 3-15 Ile Michel; 3-50 Al Azhar; 4-25 Gone Too Far; 5-00 Smith N Allan Oils; 5.30 Border Artist

- Tomorrow's other race meetings are at Bangor, Sedgefield and Worcester.

Updated: 13:02 Thursday, May 01, 2003