Captain Rio can earn his stripes in the big race at Ayr tomorrow.

The talented two-year-old is napped to win the £18,000 Betfair.com Harry Rosebery Stakes for Scarcroft trainer Richard Whitaker, successful in the same event 12 months ago with Vicious Dancer.

Dean McKeown, rider of Vicious Dancer, has the mount on Captain Rio, who, having finished unplaced on his debut at York last month, subsequently trotted-up in a maiden race at Ripon.

The speedy colt made his latest appearance in a valuable sales race at Doncaster last week and finished a creditable third to Acclamation after being hampered inside the final furlong, an untimely incident which may have cost him the runner-up prize.

Reverting to five furlongs from six tomorrow will not inconvenience Captain Rio who looks set to get back on the winning trail.

The £10,000 Glenfairn House Helps Ayrshire Hospice Handicap over five furlongs could be a suitable opportunity for Francport.

Kevin Ryan's sprinter caught the eye at Kempton on his latest start, finishing well to take sixth place behind Torosay Spring in a field of 24. Any overnight rain will serve only to enhance the chances of Francport, who likes soft ground.

Kieren Fallon, keeping Kevin Darley at bay in the race for the jockeys' championship, heads to Scotland with some sound chances. Fallon is fancied to score on It Was Meant To Be (2-05) and also Night Passion (2-35).

Darley remains closer to home and will be in action at Pontefract, where he can likewise figure among the winners.

The Sheriff Hutton jockey has good prospects on Duraid (4-45) and Leophin Dancer (5-15).

The fourth round of the Pontefract Apprentice Series Handicap, which carries a first prize of a working holiday in America for the winning rider, looks a good opportunity for Tony Hamilton to earn a few valuable points on Hormuz, trained by his boss David Nicholls.

Pat Eddery should reward his supporters at Pontefract. He teams-up with Louis Georgio, an interesting newcomer, in the Strawberry Hill Median Auction Maiden Stakes, and will also be aboard the hat-trick seeking Indaba in the betabet Fillies' Handicap. Both horses are trained by Jeremy Noseda in Newmarket.

In the £10,000 Phil Bull Trophy over an extended two miles, Bylaw, who gets in with bottom weight, can take full advantage for Manton trainer John Gosden.

Tomorrow's selections

Ayr: 2-05 It Was Meant To Be, 2-35 Night Passion, 3-05 Captain Rio (NAP), 3-35 Francport, 4-05 Provender, 4-35 Litzinsky, 5-05 Yanus

Pontefract: 2-15 Hormuz, 2-45 Louis Georgio, 3-15 Rainbow Hill, 3-45 Bylaw, 4-15 Indaba, 4-45 Duraid, 5-15 Leophin Dancer

Updated: 13:33 Wednesday, September 19, 2001