EFFIE GRAY (4.00) should be in her element at Leicester this afternoon where stamina will be at a premium following a fairly wet weekend.

Fast ground fettled Effie Gray at Redcar last time out because she simply didn't have the finishing speed to keep tabs on the leaders inside the final furlong. Trainer Peter Harris has sensibly taken the hint and waited for an opportunity to run his improving filly at a time when there is plenty of juice in the turf.

And that's undoubtedly the case for the mile-and-a-quarter Unsworth Advertising Handicap, a contest in which Effie Gray will be partnered by the massively-underrated jockey Paul Doe. Unlike some of his colleagues in the Weighing Room, Doe always uses his brains, endeavouring to employ the best possible tactics on every single horse he rides.

David Loder unleashes the first of many potential two-year-old winners for Godolphin in the shape of Silver Seeker (3.30) in the Gerard Management Maiden Stakes.

Stable jockey Frankie Dettori partners the blue-blooded debutant, said to have been burning up the Newmarket gallops with the grace of a gazelle.

The opener at Carlisle looks something of a "lay down" for Cumbrian Venture (2.15), beaten by a gnat's whisker over track and trip 11 days ago.

In a desperately tight nip and tuck finish that day, Cumbrian Venture lost out to Dispol Peto by the minimum distance of a short-head. The third-home, Masterpoint, won a red-hot race at Newmarket on Saturday and now quite probably heads for Royal Ascot - and indication of the sheer strength of the form.

Mark Johnston has an enviable strike-rate at the course and both Exclusion Zone (2.45) and Gala Gold (3.45) are live contenders in their respective races.

The once-useful Exclusion Zone is currently confined to participating in low-grade events, a reflection of injury problems encountered in the past. However he'll be fitter following a narrow defeat at Wolverhampton late last month and in any event his superior class is expected to carry the day in the one mile Buttermere Claiming Stakes.

Something was clearly amiss with Gala Gold on her first couple of starts this term when she failed to fire at either Musselburgh or Nottingham. She's better than that and is fancied to make amends in the Bassenthwaite Fillies' Handicap.

Thirsk's evening meeting has the honour of staging the £10,000 Showcase Handicap, a tight-knit 10-runner mile-and-a-half contest.

Once again it could be that man Johnston in the money this time with Robandela (7.35), a magnificent-looking son of Kingmambo, from the classic winning family of Bosra Sham. Considering the now five-year-old fractured his pelvis as juvenile he hasn't done too badly since, bagging no less than seven races last term.

A night time double for the in-form Middleham stable might also be in the offing via the newcomer Purring (8.35), who has been working well enough to claim the seven furlong Betfair Maiden Stakes.