by Tom O'Ryan

Richard Quinn, now facing a near-impossible task in his bid to catch Kevin Darley in the jockeys' championship after two blank days of racing, is not giving up without a ferocious effort.

Tomorrow, the canny Scot makes a rare return to the land of his fathers to ride at Musselburgh in a valiant attempt to reduce Darley's 13-winner margin in the title race, which draws to a close at Doncaster on Saturday.

The 'big two' will cross swords several times in the afternoon, not least in the featured £10,000 Tote Bookmakers Handicap.

Quinn will be aboard Wave Of Optimism in this two-miler, while Darley will be on Prairie Falcon, and there should be precious little to choose between the pair.

At Newmarket earlier this month Wave Of Optimism finished a close second in the Cesarewitch Handicap, with Prairie Falcon back in sixth place.

That superiority is likely to be confirmed tomorrow with Wave Of Optimism, trained by Jeff Pearce, fancied to come out on top.

Quinn can also lift the EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes on So Tempting, trained at Newmarket by James Fanshawe. A promising third on his debut, So Tempting has strong claims in this seven furlongs event.

With Quinn on Lancer and Darley teaming-up with Spree Vision, both jockeys have fighting chances in the Links Pavillion Handicap.

But I prefer the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Clarinch Claymore, a good second at Pontefract last time and a horse overdue a winning turn.

Settrington trainer John Quinn has enjoyed a fine season and Patrician Fox can add his name to the stable's scoresheet in the Weatherbys Printing Service Selling Nursery.

Darryll Holland, who rode a double at this venue last week, has the mount on the local two-year-old.

Holland has further strong claims on Celtic Mission in the EBF Littlepacepaddocks Maiden Stakes, while Young Rosein is awarded my Nap vote in thehorsesmouth.com.uk Handicap.

George Duffield's mount goes well on soft ground and has run consistently all season. Young Rosein was a respectable third at Leicester last time to Natalie Jay.

Over the jumps at Kempton, the promising Chives has good prospects of adding to his debut success in the Countryside Alliance 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

Tomorrow's Tips

Musselburgh

1.35 - Clarinch Claymore

2.05 - Patrician Fox

2.40 - So Tempting

3.10 - Wave Of Optimism

3.45 - Celtic Mission

4.15 - Young Rosein (Nap)

Kempton

1.25 - Lakefield Leader

1.55 - Twenty Bucks

2.30 - Chives

3.00 - Over The Water

3.35 - Zurs

4.05 - Be My Mot