DARRYLL HOLLAND'S bank balance could be considerably swollen following this visit to Haydock, where he has choice rides aboard Mellow Park and Takamaka Bay in the two most valuable contests on the card, the Lancashire Oaks and the Old Newton Cup.

Mellow Park (2.40) is bidding to atone for a very disappointing effort when only sixth in last month's Epsom Oaks despite being backed down to 7-2 second favourite.

"She simply couldn't handle the rain-softened ground that day," reported Darryll, who knows the filly well, having partnered her to a record-breaking 11-length victory in the Listed Lupe Stakes at Goodwood the time before.

Clearly a class act, Mellow Park faces far less testing opposition in the £50,000 Lancashire Oaks compared with the rivals she met at Epsom, which should hopefully result in bloodless success in the Group 3 event.

There's another ten grand in the pot for the Old Newton Cup, a near ten per cent of which might easily end up in Holland's pocket after he has partnered Mark Johnston's Takamaka Bay (3.50).

The selection, named after an idyllic beach to be found in the Seychelles, had no luck in running at Royal Ascot, where he was bidding for back-to-back wins in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes.

Traffic problems trying to get through from the rear of the field was Takamaka Bay's bugbear that day, and I'm sure from a tactical point of view Darryll will have the useful five-year-old much closer to the pace on this occasion.

Never a man to make things easy for prospective punters, David Nicholls sets a ticklish problem by running three horses - Flak Jacket, Hawk and American Cousin - in Beverley's feature event, the five-furlong £10,000 Hypac Handicap.

High numbers have a massive advantage and Nicholls must have had his prayer mat out before the draw was made as they are housed in stalls 9, 11, and 12 respectively for the 12-runner race!

I prefer the chances of Flak Jacket (4.15), who would have won at Goodwood last time out but for hindering his cause by hanging right-handed throughout.

If he tries the same trick, Flak Jacket will find himself slap-bang against the far side fence, by far the best place to be at the East Yorkshire track.

Somewhat surprisingly, top rider Jamie Spencer finds himself away from the glamour venues of Sandown and Haydock, having to ply his trade at Chepstow.

Nonetheless backers will be well advised to take the hint and put his mounts together in a string of doubles, trebles, or even a Lucky 15 or Yankee.

Spencer shouldn't waste any time getting off the mark since he has an eye-catching booking in the opening NSPCC Maiden Stakes on Sharpbill (2.25), a beautifully-bred newcomer from Amanda Perret's in-form Sussex stable.

Amanda has also snapped up Jamie to partner Bucks (3.30) in the longest race of the afternoon, the two-mile-and-two-furlong Ladbroke Handicap. Training stayers has always been one of Perrett's strengths and Bucks gave every indication he was about to pay a visit to the winners' circle by chasing home the highly-regarded Activist at Redcar recently.

Tomorrow's meeting at Redcar gets under way with the one-mile Sunday Apprentice Handicap when well-handicapped Harlequin Dancer is sure to be all the rage, but I just prefer Santiburi Lad (2.20).

Nigel Tinkler's gelding was finishing like an Express train when just failing to deny Tantric at Carlisle nine days ago and he looks like going one better for claimer, David Kinsella.

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