Kieren Fallon can go one better than Paul Hanagan on Sholaan at Brighton tomorrow on a day when both title protagonists look set to figure among the winners as rival Silvestre de Sousa sits out a suspension.

Fallon has been booked by William Haggas to ride Sholaan, who was ridden by Hanagan into a close second place last time out at Newcastle. The Malton jockey was left cursing that defeat as his mount drifted off a true line in the closing stages, a shift which almost certainly cost him the race.

At the post, he was half-a-length adrift of Al Saham with the remainder of the field well beaten off.

Sholaan is napped to recover those losses tomorrow in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes and can initiate a Brighton double for Fallon.

The former Norton-based jockey can also score on Fire King, a good second here on his latest outing, who lines-up for the Blakes Butcher Handicap over a mile. Andrew Haynes’ gelding is a previous course and distance winner.

While the promising Abhaath (4.05) and the hat-trick seeking Shifting Star (5.10) are also worth noting at Brighton, Fallon will already be on his way to Wolverhampton’s evening meeting when that pair go under the spotlight.

Waiting for him at Wolverhampton will be Hanagan, who has a good book of rides.

The reigning champion has fighting chances on Dark Ages (5.40), who finished a good third at Catterick recently, and also McBirney (6.10), a previous course and distance winner, trained at Newmarket by Paul d’Arcy, whose string are in good form.

Hanagan can also make his mark deeper into the card. He teams up with another course and distance winner in Khajaaly (7.40), trained by Julia Fielden at Newmarket. He has every chance of following up his latest half-length defeat of Ishiadancer.

While Hanagan may not be able to ride nap selection Sholaan at Brighton, he does at least ride stable-mate Quarrel (8.10) for Haggas. Placed in both his outings this season, the Newmarket raider looks capable of making a bold bid in this run of the mill class five handicap.

Fallon’s trip to Wolverhampton may not be in vain. Like Hanagan, he is also aboard some fancied mounts, most notably Ed Dunlop’s Amoralist (6.40), who has shaped well in all three of his outings this season, and the Luca Cumani-trained Brick Dust (8.40), who is surely capable of clinching his modest maiden assignment.

Joe Fanning has had a good run since returning from the sidelines last month after spending the height of the season recovering from a broken heel.

The North Yorkshire jockey rides Ecossaise (7.10), who has been running consistently well in defeat and who deserves some winning reward. This return to Polytrack action may signal that opportunity.

Racing selections

Brighton (tomorrow)

2.00 Finch Flyer, 2.30 True To Form, 3.05 Sholaan (NAP), 3.35 Fire King, 4.05 Abhaath, 4.40 Hi There, 5.10 Shifting Star.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)

5.40 Dark Ages, 6.10 McBirney, 6.40 Amoralist, 7.10 Ecossaise, 7.40 Khajaaly, 8.10 Quarrel, 8.40 Brick Dust, 9.10 Dingaan.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Carlisle and Ludlow.

Today’s meetings

Fontwell, Kempton, Newmarket and Worcester.