BADR, nominated by trainer Mark Johnston as his charity bet for the season, should not be missed at Beverley this afternoon.

Harrogate-based bookmakers, Skybet, recently challenged members of the Middleham Trainers Association to opt for one horse per stable to follow this year, with the aim of raising money for a nominated charity.

With a couple of hundred horses to pick from, Johnston unsurprisingly took time to think about his choice, but in selecting the lightly-raced Badr (4.00), he clearly believes the three-year-old has a rosy future.

Badr was almost certainly in need of the outing when sixth on his reappearance at Musselburgh 18 days ago. He'll have come on a ton for that pipe-opener, and at a track where the yard have a superb record, backers can expect a bolder show in the Rapid Lad Handicap.

Johnston also has a decent chance in the preceding Peter Holmes Stakes with The Bonus King, although preference is marginally for Vicious Warrior (3.25).

Richard Whitaker's raider finished second to Blue Spinnaker in Thirsk's Hunt Cup last month, form which has received a couple of significant boosts since that time.

Efidium heads the list of betting opportunities at Redcar's action-packed seven-race card.

The fact that Efidium (4.45) landed the nap on no less than three occasions during 2003 is testimony to his reliability when it comes to having the money down.

Expertly handled on each occasion by the underrated 7lb apprentice jockey, Suzanne France, the combination look ready to strike yet again in the Saltburn Classified Stakes. "Efidium is in good form and he likes a target to aim at," reported his trainer Neville Bycroft. Neville's reference to a target means Efidium enjoys being held up in big fields, because when the horses up front begin to tire, that's when the gelding gets the bit between his teeth and produces the fireworks.

Not many mid-week races are worth £75,000, so it is full marks to Goodwood for staging the valuable totesport Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter.

There isn't a single runner in the line-up with more solid credentials than Gatwick (3.15).

* ETMAAM landed a winning 9-2 nap for Janus (Colin Woods) at Bath yesterday.