Alan Brown can triumph at Pontefract tomorrow with the speedy Blue Maeve, who was narrowly beaten on the same course just over a week ago.

Brown, a former top jump jockey who rode such famous horses as Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon, had a spell of training when his riding career finished in the mid-1980s, but then concentrated on building-up a horse transport business in the Malton area.

That is now thriving and Brown has taken out a licence again this season. Still seeking his first success, he was frustratingly close with Blue Maeve nine days ago when the five-year-old went down in a head-bobbing finish to Brigadore.

Success could come tomorrow in the Chaplins Club Handicap, a race named after the popular sprinter of yesteryear trained by David Chapman and owned by Peter Savill.

Millville is fancied to defy top weight in the £15,000 Pontefract Handicap.

Trained at Newmarket by Michael Jarvis, Millville has been runner-up on his last two starts, most recently when chasing home Most Definitely at Ripon last month. Philip Robinson again has the mount as Millville bids to go one better.

At Newcastle, Rotuma is napped to get back in the winning groove by taking the TBI Wealth Managament Supports The NSPCC Apprentice Classified Stakes.

Although it is some time since he last won, Rotuma gave notice of a return to form when pipped in a blanket finish at Ayr recently.

That performance may have been the turning point for the gelding, who can win tomorrow over a course and distance where he has been successful in the past.

Michael Dods, trainer of Rotuma, also has good prospects with Zhitomir, a Thirsk runner-up last weekend, who will like the expected easy ground in the Yuill Homes/NSPCC Handicap.

Both Rotuma and Zhitomir will be ridden by Malton jockey Tom Eaves, who has been off for most of the summer with a broken arm and who returned to action at Catterick this afternoon.

Wednesday's tips:

Pontefract

2.20 Mister Arjay, 2.50 Sake, 3.20 Blue Maeve, 3.50 Millville, 4.20 Jamieson Gold, 4.50 Dakota Rain, 5.20 Flaxby.

Newcastle

2.30 Dispol Shabama, 3.00 Flying Clarets, 3.30 Vicious Prince, 4.00 Zhitomir, 4.30 Rowan Warning, 5.00 Rotuma (Nap).

Tomorrow's other race meetings are at: Brighton (afternoon, Flat), Epsom (evening, Flat) and Yarmouth (evening, Flat).

Updated: 12:07 Tuesday, August 02, 2005