TIM ETHERINGTON may occasionally describe Bailadeira in uncomplimentary terms, but the mare brought a smile to the face of her Norton trainer at Wolverhampton earlier this month and she gets the chance to do likewise tomorrow evening.

A return to Wolverhampton is scheduled for Bailadeira, who was on her best behaviour at the track last time when notching a 16-1 win which was only the second success of her 20-race career.

On her worst days – and she has had a few of those – the temperamental Bailadeira has behaved abysmally, losing her race before the start by trying to bolt off and being generally unruly.

Etherington never quite knows which Bailadeira will turn up at the races. If it’s the same one as last time, she has a chance of following up in the coral.co.uk Mobile Casino Handicap. Norton jockey James Sullivan again has the mount.

Samantha Bell, who has joined Richard Fahey after riding ten winners in her native Ireland, where she worked for Curragh trainer Kevin Prendergast, has her first chance of a winner in England aboard Flaxen Lake in the opening bookmakers.co.uk Apprentice Handicap.

Bell, who finished unplaced on a Fahey-trained horse at Southwell earlier this week on her first ride since transferring to North Yorkshire, appears to have better prospects on the Milton Bradley-trained Flaxen Lake, who was beaten only a length into fourth place at Kempton recently.

Shirley Teasdale is another apprentice with a winning chance. The Thirsk-based rider partners Turjuman, a winner for Middleham trainer Simon West on the course earlier in the week, in the Winner Love bookmakers.co.uk Handicap.

The nap vote is awarded to Goldstorm, who is twice a winner on this course and who may have been unlucky not to make it three on her latest start when she met trouble in running before staying on strongly to finish a close-up fourth. She can gain compensation in the coral.co.uk Handicap.

At Sedgefield this afternoon, Tony McCoy can play a starring role by riding a double.

The mutliple champion teams up with Big Waters in the opening Collins Seafoods Novices’ Hurdle.

Trained by Alan Swinbank, the five-year-old did well in bumpers last season and looks to have a future as a hurdler judging by his runner-up effort behind the useful Duke Of Navan at Kelso last month.

McCoy also rides the Steve Gollings-trained Soudain in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old was comfortably beaten into second at Doncaster last time, but had previously won at Market Rasen.

Also worth noting are Peaks Of Fire (2.40), the mount of the in-form Samantha Drake, and Vinetta (3.40), a Catterick winner ten days ago, who has a 7lb penalty to overcome, but who should appreciate this longer distance. Colm McCormack again rides Keith Reveley’s mare.


Racing selections

Sedgefield (today)
2.10 Big Water, 2.40 Peaks Of Fire, 3.10 Soudain, 3.40 Vinetta, 4.10 Master Red, 4.40 Ancient Times, 5.10 Red Rock.

Today’s other meetings: Ayr, Huntingdon, Kempton.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
5.30 Flaxen Lake, 6.00 Turjuman, 6.30 Miserere Mei, 7.00 Spider House, 7.30 Goldstorm (NAP), 8.00 Berlusca, 8.30 Bailadeira.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Lingfield, Sandown, Warwick.