Racing by Tom O'Ryan

Birchwood Sun, who is in the best form of his life, can complete a rapid four-timer at Carlisle tomorrow.

The gelding, trained at Darlington by Michael Dods, goes for the Border Esk Handicap, a race he won 12 months ago, and will have the assistance of Kevin Darley, who scored on him at Newcastle on Monday.

That success, in a seven furlongs claiming race, was achieved in dramatic style.

Birchwood Sun weaved through his rivals in the closing stages to win by half a length from Mujova, the 9/4 favourite.

Previously successful this season at Redcar, and at Carlisle, Birchwood Sun is on a high. Even a 6lb penalty tomorrow may not be enough to anchor him.

Gymcrak Premiere will have plenty of supporters in the Clydesdale Bank Handicap over an extended nine furlongs.

Gordon Holmes' everygreen 10-year-old ran a blinder over this course and distance on his reappearance to finish second to Night Of Glass in a race which has worked out remarkably well.

The winner has since scored again at Thirsk, third-placed High Spirits has won the Thirsk Hunt Cup, and Tertium, who finished fifth at Carlisle, has won a valuable handicap at Kempton.

Jimmy Fortune again takes the mount tomorrow on nap selection Gymcrak Premiere, who will surely take all the beating, despite his veteran status.

Springs Noblequest should not be overlooked in the opening Cladew Maiden Stakes.

Tim Eastery's two-year-old made a promising debut on this course a fortnight ago to finish third behind the more experienced Sammal and First Musical. She can take the major honours this time under Lindsay Charnock.

Saintes will appreciate the step up to a mile in the Jim Summers & Party Handicap, while Rude Awakening would only need to find a glimmer of his best form to clinch the Carlisle Exhibition 98 Limited Stakes.

At Nottingham, Foist goes for his third win inside a week in the Colwick Park Apprentice Handicap.

Mick Easterby's tough sprinter got off the mark at Hamilton on Sunday and followed-up 24 hours later at Warwick, covering a total of 700 miles. Under a 7lb penalty, he can complete a hat-trick under stable apprentice, Stan Finnamore.

Rear Window is worth looking at in the Levy Board Handicap.

The Graham McCourt-trained gelding just failed to get the better of Fairy Knight at Folkestone last time, and that winner franked the form when scoring again at Kempton earlier this week. Richard Quinn has the mount tomorrow.

Arundel trainer John Dunlop won the Highbury Vale Handicap 12 months ago with Tango King and can achieve an encore with St Enodoc, for whom Pat Eddery is a significant booking.

Watch out too for Gift Token, the mount of Kieran Fallon, in the Giltbrook Limited Stakes.

Trainer David Nicholson reached 100 winners for the third time in a season when Kilbride Lad won the Balmoral Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow yesterday.

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