KEVIN DARLEY, handed a golden opportunity of becoming champion jockey this season following the news that Kieren Fallon faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his accident at Royal Ascot, heads to Beverley tomorrow with excellent prospects of boosting his score.
The Sheriff Hutton jockey, with 59 winners to his credit, is currently locked in a three-way lead at the top of the table with 11-times champion Pat Eddery and reigning champion Fallon, whose shoulder injury threatens to keep him out for months.
Darley can take the Arco NSPCC Handicap on Bacchus, trained by Julie Camacho.
The six-year-old has run two solid races in defeat this season, at Redcar and over this course and distance last time when he finished third to Mice Ideas after being the subject of a hefty gamble.
Overdue a win, Bacchus can oblige tomorrow with Darley in the saddle.
I Can't Remember can be another winner for Darley in the Boyd Line NSPCC Claiming Stakes.
Roy Bowring's gelding has not scored for some time, but the overall level of his form in handicap company gives him a sterling chance of getting back on top in this modest event.
The Tankclean Handicap over an extended seven furlongs offers Northgate a good chance of finally getting his head in front.
Mel Brittain's maiden four-year-old has suffered several near-misses, notably at Ayr last time when he was caught in the dying strides and beaten a neck by Almazhar.
Well worth another chance tomorrow, Northgate can have the edge over Tayovullin.
Dean Mernagh, rider of Northgate, can also clinch the Ernst & Young NSPCC Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes on the Bryn Palling-trained Montana Miss.
Mernagh was in the saddle when this two-year-old made her debut at Chepstow and finished a highly creditable fourth, beaten less than three lengths by the winner Blue Goddess.
Stepping up in distance here, Montana Miss, with little to beat, should take the major honours.
At Lingfield, Misty Belle looks the answer to the Tattersalls Maiden Auction Stakes.
Rod Millman's juvenile failed by just a head to beat the odds-on Nashira at Bath last time and would surely have prevailed had she not drifted off the rails and allowed the winner to come up her inside.
Smart apprentice Lee Newman again has the mount as Misty Belle seeks deserved compensation.
The nap vote is awarded to Bee Gee, who will relish the return to the Equitrack, where she won over this distance two outings ago. With Dale Gibson making the journey from North Yorkshire to ride her, another victory looks likely for the Michael Blanshard-trained three-year-old in the Champagne Jacquart Fillies' Handicap.
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