Tim Easterby, successful in Ripon's richest race of the season two years ago with Pipalong, can land his second William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap tomorrow.

The Great Habton trainer relies on Up Tempo, who gave notice that his winning turn was near when finishing second to Pip's Magic over this course and distance 12 days ago.

Although he has yet to win a race this season, Up Tempo has turned-in some rock-solid displays in major handicaps, not least at York in June when he finished fourth to Orientor in the William Hill Trophy.

This week's rain will have eased the ground sufficiently to provide my Nap selection Up Tempo with his ideal conditions and he will lack nothing in assistance from Michael Roberts in the saddle, even though the jockey is lucky to be riding at all.

Roberts gave up his mounts yesterday after bruising his right foot in a stalls incident at Beverley on Wednesday when his mount Gdasnk became frantic after his blindfold came off and, in Roberts' words, "freaked-out"

The former champion jockey is expecting to return to action at Newmarket this evening, before travelling to Yorkshire tomorrow.

Channel 4 will be televising three races from Ripon, including the European Breeders' Fund Fillies' Handicap, and this could be another winner for Tim Easterby and Michael Roberts.

The duo will be represented by Bollin Nellie who looks to be into form and makes plenty of appeal in this ten furlongs contest.

In the £9,000 Ripon Horn Blower Stakes, Guys And Dolls should take plenty of beating.

Paul Cole's youngster beat a useful field when scoring on his debut at Newmarket last month and looks a smart performer in the making. Jimmy Fortune has the mount.

At Newbury, Arkadian Hero has good prospects of winning the Stan James Hungerford Stakes for the second successive year.

Luca Cumani's six-year-old ran a fine race to finish third to Medicean in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June on his latest outing and will be hard to beat if he can repeat last year's Hungerford-winning performance when he strode home clear of Cape Town and Umistim.

Millenary will be a tough nut to crack in the Stan James Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

Last year's St Leger winner has enjoyed another good season, winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket and finishing an excellent sixth to Galileo in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot last month.

Millenary will be bidding to give trainer John Dunlop his fourth victory in the Geoffrey Freer, following Moon Madness, Azzilfi and Silver Patriarch.

The progressive Raheibb should go well in the opening Stan James Rated Handicap, the first of three races on BBC1.

Alec Stewart's charge has won three of his last five starts, including his latest outing at Sandown where he comfortably beat Princess Almora. Frankie Dettori has the mount.

Tomorrow's tips:

Ripon

2.10 - Hawk

2.45 - Guys And Dolls

3.15 - Up Tempo (Nap)

3.50 - Bollin Nellie

4.25 - Consensus

4.55 - Pentland

Newbury

2.00 - Raheibb

2.30 - Arkadian Hero

3.00 - Millenary

3.40 - Bravest Lad

4.10 - Blue Holly

4.45 - Lease

5.20 - Halland

Updated: 12:54 Friday, August 17, 2001