NORTH Yorkshire trainers Brian Ellison and Phil Kirby will be doing their bit at Carlisle this afternoon to enable Richard Johnson to dominate the seven-race card.

Johnson, for so long in the shadow of Tony McCoy, is now ruling the roost and has already ridden more than 100 winners this season as he aims to bag his first championship, with the retired McCoy doubtless looking on in admiration.

Today there is every chance this outstanding jockey could win on all his six mounts, which include the Ellison-trained The Grey Taylor and Kirby's Courtown Oscar.

Twice a winner over hurdles at Wetherby last season, THE GREY TAYLOR returned to the same course last week for his chasing debut and ran a good race for a long way before finishing fourth to the smart Twelve Roses.

His stamina may have been stretched that day over two and a half miles and Ellison has significantly returned The Grey Taylor to two miles for the ApolloBet Beginners' Chase. He should be hard to beat.

COURTOWN OSCAR contests the ApolloBet £50 Free Bets Handicap Chase. A winner on this course over hurdles in April, the Middleham gelding subsequently notched a Uttoxeter success on his chasing bow.

He has had a long break since – but Kirby's horses are in good form and it would be no surprise to see Courtown Oscar come out on top.

Johnson begins the meeting by teaming up with nap selection WESTERN MILLER in the ApolloBet Online Games And Casino Novices' Hurdle.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained four-year-old has shaped well in two bumpers, finishing a creditable runner-up in both of them. He has now gathered enough experience to make his mark over hurdles and is fancied to make it third-time lucky.

Longsdon and Johnson are represented by SHEAR ROCK in the ApolloBet Best Odds Guaranteed Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.

A winner of his last three races, the five-year-old has made giant strides lately and ran out a five-lengths scorer at Fontwell three weeks ago. Despite having to concede weight all round here, Shear Rock is not one to dismiss lightly.

MONBEG CHARMER is yet another Longsdon-Johnson representative in the ApolloBet Follow on Twitter And Facebook National Hunt Flat Race.

Although the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Gully's Edge will take a fair bit of beating, Monbeg Dude makes appeal. He ran out a 12-lengths winner of an Irish point-to-point last season and is a useful-looking prospect.

Ten days ago at Sedgefield, Johnson gained a fluent 13-length win on AMUSE ME. He rides the gelding, trained in the Lake District by Jimmy Moffatt, again in the ApolloBet In Play Handicap Hurdle and a 7lb penalty may not be enough to stop the partnership from following up.

On the evening meeting at Chelmsford, EMIRATES COMFORT takes the eye in the Get Social With totepool On Facebook Maiden Stakes.

Unraced last year as a juvenile, the Godolphin filly was beaten less than a length into third place on her debut at Kempton earlier this month. That experience will not have been wasted on her and this step up in trip should also suit. She looks sure to go well.

Also worth noting are TENZING NORGAY (5.55), runner-up the last twice and overdue a win, and KALON BRAMA (7.25), who goes well on this course and is ultra-consistent.