SHAROURA, a beaten favourite at Catterick yesterday, is napped to recover losses at Thirsk tomorrow.

The Richard Fahey-trained mare goes for the Stanland Group Fillies' Handicap and can make the most of her light weight.

Yesterday, Sharoura ran in a seven-furlong handicap, confined to apprentices, who had never ridden a winner, and, after looking the most likely winner most of the way, was swallowed-up near the finish and beaten into third place.

That race was over seven furlongs and tomorrow's return to six furlongs, over which Sharoura won earlier in the month, will surely suit her even better. From a yard in great form, the seven-year-old is taken to show her rivals a clean pair of heels.

Mick Channon and Tony Culhane are enjoying a splendid run on northern tracks this summer and the trainer-and-jockey combination can click again with Pivotal Guest in the featured £14,000 Lewis Geipel Challenge Cup Stakes.

A winner over five furlongs at Newcastle in April, Pivotal Guest did not reappear until a fortnight ago at Ascot, where he finished third to Chinsola in a pretty hot contest over tomorrow's distance of seven furlongs.

It could be that he was in need of that race and, if so, he should go well here.

Ryedale apprentice Suzanne France has an understandable soft spot for Efidium, who has provided her with all four of her career wins this season.

The partnership join forces yet again in the Levy Board Apprentice Handicap and have good prospects of adding to their tally.

Anthos, a beaten favourite on her debut, journeys north from James Fanshaw's stables and is taken to gain compensation in the hands of Seb Sanders in the July Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

At Ascot, Kaluana Court makes plenty of appeal in the John Guest Brown Jack Stakes over two miles.

The seven-year-old bounced back to winning form in impressive style at Newmarket last Saturday when scoring by six lengths. The handicapper is sure to hike her up in the weights for that convincing success, but in the meantime, she can make light of a 4lb penalty.

The Weatherbys Bank Rated Handicap looks a good opportunity for Fantasy Believer.

Trained by John Quinn, just outside Malton, Fantasy Beliver has run very creditably in defeat since scoring a narrow win at Ayr. This could be his turn to return to the winning groove under jockey Darryll Holland.

The potentially smart Waldmark can finally open her winning account for Sir Michael Stoute in the October Club Treehouse Trust Valiant Stakes. Kieren Fallon takes the mount.

Tomorrow's tips:

Thirsk

2-05 Anthos, 2-35 Sharoura (NAP), 3-05 Dugdale, 3-40 Look Here#s Carol, 4-10 Pivotal Guest, 4-45 My Ocean Monarch,

5-20 Efidium

Ascot

2-15 Three Secrets, 2-45 Kaluana Court, 3-20 Fantasy Beliver, 3-50 Waldmark, 4-25 Preview, 5-00 Beneventa

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Chepstow, Newmarket, Salisbury and Wolverhampton.

Updated: 12:43 Thursday, July 24, 2003