SHAYADI (3.15) should not be missed in today's feature event at Carlisle, the £20,500 Cumberland Plate.

Two years ago Mark Johnston's gelding was a strong fancy for the immensely valuable Tote Ebor at York, but due to an injury he flopped in the Knavesmire showpiece and wasn't seen out again for 15 months.

Such a lengthy absence from action took its toll on Shayadi, who has since taken time to find his stride until, with the aid of first-time blinkers, he bounced back to form with a fast-finishing fourth at Hamilton this month.

The five-year-old subsequently disappointed at Ripon, however there was a valid excuse for the defeat because the trip (1m 2f) was too short, plus he had no luck in running whatsoever.

The return to a longer distance, together with the much stiffer track, is sure to suit Shayadi far better in what appears to be a rather sub-standard renewal of one of the course's best known contests.

Andrew Balding's stable went a couple of weeks without scoring after scooping the Oaks with Casual Look.

Far too talented to be stuck on the sidelines for long, Bading got back on track with a winner at Beverley on Monday and further success awaits via Dark Shah (4.45) in the King's Head Handicap. Dark Shah has been operating in superior company down south and will quite possibly benefit from the trip north, having twice run with credit against superior opposition at Newbury.

Fourteen decent sprinters turn out for the Jack Calvert Handicap, a typically competitive five-furlong dash at the North Yorkshire venue.

All three career wins for course specialist Mitsuki have come at the track and with Kevin Darley booked, the James Bethell-trained four-year-old filly is sure to be popular with the punters.

It's odds-on that Mitsuki will run another cracker, although I marginally prefer the prospects of fellow Coverham-based raider Brigadore (3.25), who is trained further up the hill at Ashgill Stables by John Weymes.

Weymes needs a shot in the arm to get his season moving and Brigadore is just the type of horse to provide the yard with a much-needed boost. As a two-year-old the selection could do little wrong and as result his rating shot up to 96, only for a few niggling problems to keep him off the track for most of 2002.

When he returned to the fray in the spring Brigadore was clearly ring-rusty and it has taken time for him to regain his old confidence. There were distinct signs of an imminent revival when he was fifth from a lousy centre-field draw at Ripon last week and now, with the benefit of a much handier position near to the stands' rail, he looks ready for a welcome return to the winners' enclosure.

* Mick Easterby has the champagne on ice after Top Dirham gained a last-gasp success under a fine ride from Dale Gibson in the Persimmon Homes Carlisle Bell at Carlisle yesterday.

Top Dirham had a wall of horses in front of him two furlongs out, but somehow Gibson weaved his way through and the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained gelding got up close home to win by half a length.

There is a bonus of £20,000 for stable staff on offer for any yard which wins the 'Bell' and today's Tote Credit Club Cumberland Plate, and the Easterby hopes rest with Sporting Gesture.

The Sheriff Hutton trainer was represented by his son, David, who said: ''It is more by luck than planning that we have a chance of the bonus, but there will be some party down the line if Sporting Gesture lands it.

''Sporting Gesture won at York and there was plenty of champagne that day. Everything looks all right for the horse and our apprentice Paul Mulrennan, who has joined us from Pat Haslam and who claims 5lb, rides.''

Of Top Dirham, he said: ''He is in a mile race at Doncaster on Sunday and I think he could go for the John Smith's Cup at York.''

Gibson, who was taking his score for the season into double figures and said: ''There would have been more room on the M25 than there was two out, it was so tight, but he is so tough."

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