Such is the modest fare that even regular punters might be tempted to steer away from tomorrow's low-grade racing action, which comprises a single Flat meeting at Brighton, and a jumps fixture at Newton Abbot.

Tarxien heads to the latter venue with an outstanding chance of winning the Cloud 9 Fitness Centre Novices' Hurdle.

A new recruit to Martin Pipe's West country yard, Tarxien has won his last two starts with the minimum of fuss.

The seven-year-old has to concede weight all round tomorrow, but he looks a cut above his rivals and, although he is likely to start at prohibitive odds, he does not look one to oppose.

The Devon Life Handicap Chase offers Eastdon Gold Dust a good opportunity to open his winning account after a series of respectable efforts.

Vince Slattery's mount was beaten six lengths into second by the favourite Noble Comic at Stratford last time out, but would have finished considerably closer had he not blundered badly at the third-last fence.

He looks well worth another chance tomorrow as he seeks to gain compensation and is awarded the Nap vote.

Master Beveled is fast approaching the twilight of his career which has seen him win good races on the Flat and over hurdles.

The 11-year-old, trained by David Evans, bids to add to that record by chalking-up a victory over fences in the Balmoral Novices' Chase.

With champion jockey Tony McCoy in the saddle, he will lack nothing in assistance.

At Brighton, Lara Falana is worth more than a sideways glance in the Co-Op Marie Curie Cancer Care Handicap.

Jamie Osborne's lightly-raced filly finished a decent second in a similar race at Pontefract last week when contesting her first handicap. With top apprentice Jamie Mackay booked for the mount tomorrow, a bold bid is anticipated.

Kieren Fallon, locked in a thrilling battle with Kevin Darley for the jockeys' championship, looks likely to aid his cause with a couple of winners.

Fallon, the three-times champion, has been booked by Middleham trainer Karl Burke to ride the in-form Legal Set in the Pot Noodle Claiming Stakes, while Zoudie, trained by Jeremy Noseda, who sent out a winner at Redcar yesterday, can also oblige for Kieren in the Plumrose Danish Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Photo Flash, who ran a fair race over seven furlongs at Lingfield last time to finish fourth to Penne Dancer, has strong possibilities of stepping up on that display in the EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes. Richard Quinn takes the mount on John Dunlop's juvenile.

Updated: 12:50 Monday, August 13, 2001