MUDLOVERs will be in their element on the heavy ground forecast at Leicester this afternoon and Fieldgunner Kirkup, on his favourite conditions, is fancied to come good for the first time this season.

The North Yorkshire gelding, trained near Thirsk by David Barron, runs in the Sharnford Handicap and is napped to defy top weight under Graham Gibbons.

Fieldgunner Kirkup has failed to trouble the judge in four outings this season, but he has shaped promisingly a couple of times. The time now looks right for him to strike winning form and he can plough through the testing ground, just as he's done in the past.

Brawby trainer Geoff Oldroyd brings Bond Club out quickly to contest the Hickling Selling Stakes and could be rewarded.

The gelding chased home the useful Bear Behind at Thirsk on his penultimate start but failed to get home at Redcar last week when stepped up to seven furlongs and racing keener than ideal at the head of affairs. This drop back to six furlongs should be perfect for him.

William Haggas has found a good opportunity for Danehill Revival in the Charnwood Forest Fillies' Conditions Stakes.

A debut winner at Pontefract, the speedily-bred three-year-old was far from disgraced when fourth in Listed company at Ascot on her second start. She can resume winning ways here with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Haggas also has a couple of good chances at Carlisle's evening meeting.

The Newmarket trainer is fancied to score with My Spirit and Arabian Comet, both mounts of Silvestre de Sousa.

My Spirit got off the mark on her debut at Nottingham last month and has been given a mark of 77 for her handicap bow. She also receives the three-year-old allowance this evening which will further aid her cause. She should go well in the ApolloBet Fillies' Handicap.

Arabian Comet was a fluent winner at Wolverhampton on her latest start and now lines-up for the ApolloBet In Play Betting Handicap.

The three-year-old needs to transfer her latest form to turf, but there is no reason why she will be unable to achieve that and is fancied to take plenty of beating.

Malton apprentice Samantha Bell rode her first winner of the season at Haydock last Friday night on Go Go Green and she can double her tally on Ewell Place for her boss Richard Fahey in the opening race.

A good second at Beverley recently, Ewell Place may not need to improve much on that performance to go one better for Bell in the ApolloBet Apprentice Training Series Handicap.

Fahey could also have a say in the outcome of the ApolloBet Median Auction Maiden Stakes with Heaven's Secret.

The trainer's juveniles are going well this season and it would be no surprise if this son of Clodovil came out on top in a race where Fahey should have a good idea of the strength of the likely favourite Free Entry, trained by James Tate. Fahey's Clouds Rest beat Free Entry narrowly at Beveley last month.

Brian Ellison has good prospects with Alaskan Bullet in the ApolloBet Enhanced Racing Specials Handicap.

The five-year-old shaped with unmistakable promise on his reappearance at Thirsk when finishing sixth, beaten little more than three lengths, in a competitive handicap won by Tumblewind.

Likely to have benefited from that outing, Alaskan Bullet can make a bold bid this time.


Selections

Leicester today

2.15 Mumford, 2.45 Bond Club, 3.20 Spectator, 3.55 Danehill Revival, 4.25 Fieldgunner Kirkup (NAP), 5.00 Wojha, 5.30 Pink Lips, 6.05 Vale Of Clara.

Carlisle today

6.15 Ewell Place, 6.45 Heaven's Secret, 7.15 Alaskan Bullet, 7.45 My Spirit, 8.15 Arabian Comet, 8.45 Bajan Rebel.

Today's other meetings

Chepstow and Windsor.

Tomorrow's meetings

Brighton, Ripon, Southwell and Yarmouth.