English Racing Preview: One the of the oldest races in the calendar is staged at Carlisle today when 18 horses go to post for the historic Carlisle Bell.

Mick Easterby's Top Dirham landed a massive punt when scoring in the Carlisle Glass-sponsored event last year and the Yorkshire trainer's charge lines up again this time.

He was denied a run at a crucial stage on his latest outing on the Knavesmire and can make amends with back-to-back victories in the mile contest.

The six-year-old was the subject of some hefty bets at York and, pitched in against some useful sorts, was not disgraced to be beaten five lengths.

His ability to handle the unique contours of the Blackwell track is also an advantage, as is his ability to cope with a variety of grounds.

Top Dirham may not have won since taking this race by half a length last year, but can pick up the winning thread for a unique double.

The other big race on the card is the toteplacepot Cumberland Plate, which Easterby nearly landed last year with Sporting Gesture, who was just touched off by Silvertown.

Both are in the field again, but Newmarket handler Luca Cumani can take the mile-and-a-half contest with Loves Travelling, who can defy top weight after several sound efforts of late.

Albinus was beaten by a highly promising sort in the form of Etmaam on his second start of the year and ran out a smart six-length winner on his latest outing.

The horse he beat at Ripon that day has scored since and Andrew Balding's charge looks a worthy opponent to the likely hotpot, Selebela, in Salisbury's totetrifecta Bibury Cup Stakes.

The banker of the day, though, runs in the European Breeders Fund Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Kempton. Maids Causeway, who faces seven rivals in the seven-furlong contest, ran a blinder at big odds on her debut two weeks ago. On that occasion she finished runner-up, just a head behind her stablemate Whazzat, in a competitive event at Newbury. Her conqueror went on to run out a smart three-and-a-half-length winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last week and trainer Barry Hills has bypassed a Listed event on Saturday to run here.

Being a daughter of Giant's Causeway she will appreciate further, but should barely have to come out of second gear to score.