Espada can continue the excellent run of trainer Peter Calver, who hands in his licence at the end of the season, by taking the Tote Scoop6 Stakes at Ayr today. Calver has started early with his promise of going out with a bang, having saddled a winner at Redcar on both Saturday and Sunday.

And now Espada can play his part with victory in the day's "Showcase Handicap".

The three-year-old has already struck for Calver once this season, winning a classified stakes at Thirsk in May.

On his only run since then he was a creditable fifth to Calcutta in a competitive handicap at Newmarket a month ago.

It is significant that Espada is one of two horses that Calver's main patrons Janis and Kenneth MacPherson intend to hang on to - the other being smart sprint handicapper Perryston View. And Ayr is the MacPhersons' local track.

Dromineer can give Tipperary trainer Tom Hogan his first winner on this side of the Irish Sea by making his stamina count in the Brodick Bay Handicap.

Hogan, in his second season at his base in Nenagh, has booked champion jockey Kieren Fallon for the eight-year-old, who is a winner over hurdles and fences as well as on the Flat.

His charge was three lengths third to Tryphaena over two miles at the Galway Festival on his latest start. That form looks good enough to make the trip to Ayr worthwhile.

Tom Tun gained a well-deserved win at Doncaster last month and can follow up in a disappointing turn-out for the Ayr Flower Show Classified Stakes.

F-Zero, a promising seventh of 14 on his debut to Blue Gold at Sandown, is preferred to his four rivals in the opening Belleisle Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Mark Pitman looks the trainer to follow at Newton Abbot where he has fine prospects of a double with Balladur and Just Good Fun.

Balladur, who is a fairly useful hurdler, makes his fencing debut in the Holland Novices' Chase and judged on his form over timber looks a cut above his rivals here.

His best performance last term came when he slammed Memsahib Ofesteem by eight lengths at Fakenham in January.

Balladur has the build to make a chaser and is selected to get his new career off to a winning start.

Although he has not raced since December, Pitman looks to have found a suitable opportunity in the Final Fling Novices' Hurdle for the promising Just Good Fun to record his first victory.