THE draw could play a crucial part in the outcome of today's £20,000 Carlisle Bell and there is none better placed to take advantage of the favoured far rail than the southern raider, George Stubbs (3.30).

Darryll Holland is a past master in the art of judging the pace on front-runners such as George Stubbs, ideally placed in stall 17 to nab the rail while the others in behind all get in each others' way.

For sure it will be tough to hang on to the lead inside the final couple of furlongs when the cream of the remaining contestants begin to snap at Holland's heels.

But hopefully he's a strong enough jockey to repel all challenges aboard Paul Cole's USA-bred four-year-old.

The fine weather has resulted in extremely firm ground, especially in the Midlands and South.

Some horses react better than others to road-like conditions, and one in particular who likes to hear her hooves rattle is Warwick-bound Decoy (4.20).

She has stamina by the bucket load, and could probably gallop up the A1 if required, making victory in the two-mile Eurotrek Office Furniture Handicap a distinct possibility.

Another three-year-old in excellent heart, Mana Pools (4.50), needs to be on your short-list for the closing Attachmate Handicap.

Jeremy Glover's filly ran out a very comfortable winner over a similar trip at Nottingham, an effortless success which suggested she was about to set up a sequence.

There's some interesting action up at Hamilton's evening meeting, where Les Eyre's mud-loving Mr Fortywinks (6.55) has the potential to spring a surprise in the opening mile-and-five-furlong Amateur Riders' Handicap

Party Ploy is bound to start a hot favourite, having attracted the services of the reigning champion lady jockey, Carol Williams. But she may not get things all her own way against Mr Fortywinks, twice successful over track and trip in the past.

Sosumi (8.25) takes a fair old drop in grade, having competed in the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas earlier in the year.

The Mark Tompkins-trained filly now goes swimming in far shallower waters at the Scottish track, looking the likely winner of the EBF Conditions Stakes over an extended mile.

Leading apprentice Paul Hannagan has been getting rave reviews of late and I fancy him to steer home Miss Opulence (8.55) in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap.

On recent evidence Brian Ellison's representative appears to be head and shoulders above the opposition. It's just a matter of whether she'll be able to hump top-weight up the gruelling climb to the winning post.

Alan Berry is always a man to be feared at the course, a factor likely to sway heavily with local punters needing to "get out of jail" in the lucky last, the Dolce Parfum Fillies' Handicap.

Berry fields Columbine (9.25), back on a handy mark and desperately unlucky when failing to obtain a clear passage at Musselburgh last Monday.

Mr Dinos has been backed in to 5-1 clear favourite from 6-1 with William Hill for the Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate.

The three-year-old, runner-up in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, will be bidding to give trainer Paul Cole back-to-back successes in the two-mile stamina test at Newcastle on Saturday.

Archduke Ferdinand, who did the business for Cole 12 months ago, is an 11-1 chance with Hills, who also report support for Mary Reveley's Tees Components, who has come in to 8-1 from 10-1.

Coral have also cut Mr Dinos to 6-1 favourite from 8-1.

Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate: William Hill bet: 5-1 Mr Dinos, 6-1 Sarangani, 7-1 Fantasy Hill, Riyadh, 8-1 Harlestone Grey, Taffrail, Tees Components, 10-1 Bangalore, Jonny Oscar, 11-1 Archduke Ferdinand, 14-1 Travelmate, 16-1 bar.

Manchester United manager and successful racehorse owner Sir Alex Ferguson will be at Pontefract on Monday to officially open the £600,000 Park Suite extension to the main stand.

Ferguson is joint owner of Rock Of Gibraltar, winner of the English and French 2000 Guineas and the James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

First race is at 2.15 pm with the feature being the £15,000-added EBF Park Suite Fillies' Stakes, a Showcase Handicap over six furlongs.