Twice Over To Give It A Go

Twice Over will spearhead a double-pronged raid on Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown for owner Khalid Abdullah.

Henry Cecil's five-year-old will be joined by Sir Michael Stoute's Zacinto, giving Abdullah a strong hand as he searches for more Group One glory in what has already been a hugely successful season thanks to Special Duty, Workforce and Byword.

Twice Over gave him a one-two at Royal Ascot by chasing home Byword and connections hope he can go one better at the weekend, with Cecil giving him the green light to take his chance on the ground.

"The horse is in good form. He doesn't want any jar in the ground but Andrew Cooper (clerk of the course) is well aware of that so we expect good ground for him on Saturday," said Teddy Grimthorpe, Abdullah's racing manager.

"It was a cracking run at Ascot. He got shuffled back. He likes to be ridden relatively prominently and by the time he got out and got going, it was too late. Henry has brought him back tremendously well. The horse looks in great shape now and let's hope he can go on."

Coral Eclipse Preview

Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dar Re Mi features among 13 remaining entries in the Coral-Eclipse on Saturday.

John Gosden's five-year-old has not raced on British soil since beating Sariska in the Yorkshire Oaks last August but has since finished fifth in the Arc, third in the Breeders' Cup Turf and tasted glory on World Cup night at Meydan.

Aidan O'Brien has six possible runners as he seeks a fifth success in the Sandown showpiece. Royal Ascot disappointment Steinbeck could be joined by Ballydoyle stablemates Beethoven, Bright Horizon, Encompassing, Fencing Master and Viscount Nelson.

Mawatheeq attempts to put a Royal Ascot reversal behind him when he lines up.

Marcus Tregoning's five-year-old was forced to miss the Dubai World Cup due to injury earlier in the season and as a result the Prince Of Wales's Stakes was his first start of the campaign.

His trainer Marcus Tregoning was not too despondent following that below-par effort and said: "He seems in good form and all being well he'll run on Saturday."

Haydock Preview

Connections of Les Fazzani are praying for rain ahead of her bid to register a first Pattern-race success in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock on Saturday.

The six-year-old struck gold in Listed company on her latest visit to the Merseyside track, making every yard of the running and repelling Polly's Mark by a head.

Stephen Hillen, racing advisor to owner Dr Marwan Koukash, said: "She's in good form but ideally we could do with a bit of rain as her form shows she is better when the ground is on the soft side."

He added: "She did it well at Haydock the last day and whatever amount of ability she has, she is such a tough filly.

"She hasn't won a Group race yet and obviously that is the next step with her having won a Listed race. She always tries her best and if they do get a bit of cut in the ground I think she'll have every chance."

Les Fazzani is one of 16 entries in the Group Two heat with Polly's Mark due to reoppose.

News On Overturn

Donald McCain is waiting to see how the handicapper reacts before deciding whether to give Northumberland Plate hero Overturn another outing on the Flat.

The six-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic 2010 so far, winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle and finishing second in the Swinton Hurdle before his lucrative Newcastle triumph on Saturday.

"He's come out of the race in tremendous nick and we were delighted with him. He toughed it out from the front and Eddie (Ahern) gave him a great ride. We haven't made any definite plans for him yet and we'll just see how he is over the next couple of weeks and see what the handicapper does," said McCain.

"It's all up in the air really but I would like to give him another run somewhere.

"The programme book isn't out for the next jumps season so I don't know where we'll start him off when we go back hurdling either."

O`Brien 1-2-3

Cape Blanco led home a clean sweep for the Aidan O'Brien camp in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Johnny Murtagh settled in fourth for most of the way on the 7-2 shot and moved up to challenge early in the straight when his stable companion Midas Touch took over in front.

Jan Vermeer joined in and the three Ballydoyle horses fought it out through the final furlong, with Cape Blanco asserting in the last 100 yards to score by half a length. Midas Touch took second, ahead of Jan Vermeer.

Jack Wins A Cracker!

Jockey Jack Mitchell notched the biggest win of his career when booting home Premio Loco in the Group Three Sunley Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

The six-year-old gelding made light of an 8lb penalty for a German Group Two success to spring a 25-1 shock in the seven-furlong feature.

Back from a 127-day break following two runs at the Dubai International Carnival, he showed his tough streak in wearing down Red Jazz late on to score by three-quarters of a length.

It was a popular success in local quarters as Premio Loco's owner Bernard Westley hails from the Suffolk town.

Trainer Chris Wall said: "Bernie is Newmarket born and bred, so this win means a lot to him and makes it even more satisfying for us.

"Coming into the race, the horse was carrying a bit of condition - he had been off the track since Dubai - and I thought he might struggle a bit against match-fit rivals.

"But it was a good start to his season and we're really pleased. If he can step up on that he can be competitive in Group Two races here and we will think about the Summer Mile at Ascot in a fortnight's time."

Woodgate Winner!

England soccer star Jonathan Woodgate missed the chance to be part of his country's World Cup squad because of injury, but will have had his sprits lifted when Jonny Mudball scored at Newcastle.

The heavily-backed 5-2 favourite was a pillar-to-post winner of the totescoop6 Handicap in the hands of Seb Sanders, going clear inside the final furlong and passing the post four and a half lengths ahead of Poet's Place.

Donald Isses His Winner!

Donald McCain enjoyed a great jumps season and gained a major success on the Flat when Overturn landed the £175,000 John Smith's Northumberland Plate under a superb ride from Eddie Ahern at Newcastle.

Ahern judged things to perfection as he brought the 14-1 chance - drawn widest of all in stall 21 - home in front in the two-mile feature, bouncing him out quickly and tacking over to the inside rail and into the lead.

Confident of his mount's stamina, he had no worries in trying to make the rest of the running and Overturn kept up a relentless gallop to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Drunken Sailor.

Unfortunately McCain failed to get to Gosforth Park to see the race, having set out with owner Tim Leslie. The trainer later explained: "We had a tyre blow-out on the M6 and we rang any number of garages trying to get a new tyre for a Maserati, but failed!

"We managed to hear the race commentary over the phone in the end and the car had to be brought back on the back of a truck. I am looking forward to seeing a recording of the race, but he seems to have done it well."

He went on: "We were thinking of going for the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot, but that was two and a half miles and today's race was worth a lot more money, so we decided to have a go at this one.

"I don't know what we will do now, we may give him a break and try another on the Flat, but he will go back jumping in the winter and I think he will jump a fence one day."

Ahern added: "It gives you some buzz to win a race like this and I am pleased to win it for Donald. I rode his first Flat winner at Chester about two years ago.

"Plan A was to get him out of the stalls quickly and get the rail, then Plan B was for something to lead me, but nothing took me on so I made it. Donald said he would stay as he stays two and a half miles over hurdles. I would love to ride him over jumps!"

Red-hot favourite Deauville Flyer, although fifth, was never able to get in a blow and Robert Winston said: "The way the race panned out did not suit him. They steadied down the back and he did not pick up for me when I wanted."

More Plate News

Wells Lyrical is unlikely to try to go one better in Saturday's John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle unless the heavens open.

Trainer Bryan Smart has warned he will not risk last year's runner-up on fast ground in the two-mile handicap.

"He won't run unless the rain comes. There's none forecast, which is a pain, but never mind. There's a lot of us hoping for some rain," said the North Yorkshire handler.

"He wants some juice and if he gets it, he'll run very well even though he hasn't run for a long time. He's had a couple of racecourse gallops.

"He's in great form with himself, but unfortunately we won't be going anywhere unless it rains."

Charlie Swan plans to be double-handed with Rajik, eighth in the Ascot Stakes last week, and Zaralabad, third in the 2009 Irish Cesarewitch.

The County Tipperary trainer said: "Hopefully the two of them will run. Rajik has come out of Royal Ascot well. We probably dropped him in a bit too far, which was my fault.

"Zaralabad is in good form. He was third in the Irish Cesarewitch last year and has taken a while to come to himself, but he seems in good order now.

"I'm not sure who will ride them yet. I've got to wait and see whether the top-weights run or not. It depends a bit on if the weights go up."

News On The Plate

Andrew Balding intends launching a dual assault on the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday with Chiberta King and Bernie The Bolt.

Chiberta King was given a fine front-running ride by Jimmy Fortune to win at Newmarket last time out, while Bernie The Bolt was unplaced in the Chester Cup on his only start so far this season.

"They've both been in good form and they shouldn't be inconvenienced by the prospect of fast ground," the Kingsclere trainer told At The Races.

"The question mark for Chiberta King is stepping up to two miles for the first time, but he shapes like a horse who should appreciate the trip. He should be comfortable on the ground as long as it isn't too fast.

"He's gone up a fair bit up in the weights - he's running off a mark of 103, which is slightly more taxing, but he's in great nick and if he stays the two miles he should have every chance.

"Bernie The Bolt has taken a bit of time to come to himself, but we're a lot happier with his work now, but I still don't think he will be at his best until the autumn.

"Having said that he doesn't mind fast ground and he's come on a lot since Chester. I think the Cesarewitch will probably be his race, but handicaps like this are well worth winning so he'll be doing his best. He is the type of horse that Newmarket suits better.

"I'll be hopeful they go a strong gallop on Saturday as he stays very well and he could play a hand at the finish."

Cumani Update

Luca Cumani was thrilled with the performance of Purple Moon in finishing third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and he may now aim for a second win in the Ebor at York.

The much-travelled seven-year-old won the big Knavesmire handicap in 2007 and has not scored since, though he has run well in top-class company.

"Purple Moon probably didn't quite stay the last quarter-mile of the Gold Cup but ran an excellent race even so," the trainer told his website, www.lucacumani.com.

"He saw the trip out better than most of his opponents, and even briefly looked early in the straight as if he was going to take a big hand himself.

"There is every chance we will bump into Age Of Aquarius somewhere along the Cup trail, though we also have the Lonsdale at York as an alternative and possibly the Ebor as well.

"We will need to do some more research into the record of top-weights before we commit him to an entry in that race."

More From Ponte`

Prospect Wells shrugged off a 412-day absence to land the Listed totepool Pontefract Castle Stakes at Pontefract on his first run for the Howard Johnson stable.

Formerly trained by Andre Fabre in France, where his best run was when second in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris two seasons ago, the five-year-old showed reservoirs of stamina under Paul Mulrennan to repel Nanton.

The 9-2 shot looked in trouble as Nanton loomed upsides inside the final furlong under a textbook Kieren Fallon drive, but the odds-on favourite could not get past and went down by half a length.

"He's a star. He had a bad time when he was gelded and we nearly lost him. I've got quite attached to him so I'm very emotional," said Johnson's travelling head lass Rachel Kirtley.

"It's a miracle he's still here. He was skin and bone at one stage, but thankfully once we got him back he's never looked back."

Fallon went one better on Markington (15-8 favourite) in the totesport.com Pontefract Cup.

A winner over hurdles at Aintree just nine days earlier, the Peter Bowen-trained gelding repeated last year's success in this two-and-a-quarter-mile test. However, he was all out to keep Swinging Hawk at bay by a neck.

"It was always the intention to come back here to try and win it again," said Bowen.

"He's improved a bit over hurdles and on the Flat as well. I hope he has or else we might have to run him over fences. We have schooled him at home."

Pontefract Review

Frankie Dettori delighted punters at Pontefract by winning on his only ride of the afternoon on the Godolphin-owned Zabeel Park.

The crowd-pleasing Italian made most of the running on the youngster and always had the upper hand over the favourite Mama Lulu at the business end of the EBF totepool A Better Way To Bet Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

The 5-4 shot, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, won cosily by two lengths, with Princess Izzy eight lengths back in third.

"She's done it well and she's a nice little filly," said Godolphin's representative Thomas Burns. "She's improved from her maiden run at Kempton and she could be one in nurseries."

Forceful tactics helped Abu Dubai (14-1), ridden by Jamie Mackay, open her account at the 12th attempt on the Flat in the Bet totepool At totesport.com Fillies' Handicap.

Jeremy Glover's filly was strongly pressed by Rascal In The Mix in the final furlong, but she stuck to her task well to hold on by a neck. Solitary was another two and half lengths away in third.

"We've tried a few different things with her. I've only had her this year so I've been getting to know her," said Glover. "We've held her up a few times and it's appeared not to be the right thing to do, so last time and again here we've let her bowl along."

Arizona John (10-1) came with a powerful run in the straight to land the Bet totepool On 0800 221221 Handicap.

There were plenty in with chances as the field turned for home, but it was Stephen Craine who held all the answers on John Mackie's charge and he got the better of Follow The Flag by two and three-quarter lengths.

Rhyton was Derby-winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute's only runner and the 6-4 favourite got up in the last stride to deny Sharakti by a nose in the Bet On World Cup at totesport.com Maiden Stakes.

Another WINNER For Us And For O`Brien!

Aidan O'Brien's near four-day wait for a Royal Ascot winner ended in sensational style as Lillie Langtry surged to victory in the Coronation Stakes.

The Coolmore team had suffered a host of near-misses earlier in the week, but Lillie Langtry resumed normal service and provided O'Brien with his 29th Royal Ascot winner as she forged clear under Johnny Murtagh as the 7-2 favourite.

Gile Na Greine almost caused a mighty upset at 25-1, kicking for home over two furlongs out, but Murtagh angled his filly out to challenge at the two pole and she responded willingly to assert by a length and a quarter.

O'Brien said: "It is a relief as everyone puts a lot of work in. The horses have been slow to come to hand and it has been tough, so it is great it has happened today. We have been trying to peddle as fast as we can without the chain coming off.

"It is a credit to everyone involved to get her back from the injury she sustained in America. Johnny was looking forward to riding her and she quickened up really well. You dream of these things, but they don't always happen.

"She has the option to step up to a mile and a quarter in either the Pretty Polly (at the Curragh) or the fillies' race (Nassau) at Goodwood. We'll have to decide whether she stays at a mile or steps up to a mile and a quarter."

Murtagh added: "You can get carried away at Ballydoyle riding Group One winner after Group One winner, so it has been a bit testing, but you can't be feeling sorry for yourself.

"She's a champion and I thought she was by far our best filly last year - going to America I was telling Aidan how far we were going to win the Breeders' Cup by. I thought she was one of my better rides of the week and it rode like a pretty strong Coronation."

Monterosso Advised at 9/2 WINS at 7/2

Monterosso turned in an impressive display to land the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot for Mark Johnston and Frankie Dettori.

The 7-2 chance came into the race having won four of his last five starts and was sent to the front halfway up the straight, sweeping aside Derby runner-up At First Sight.

The result was never in doubt thereafter as the three-year-old excelled on this step up to a mile and half to pass the post two and a quarter lengths ahead of Arctic Cosmos, with Buzzword third.

Johnston said: "That day at Ripon when he won a handicap was the day we really saw the class. He was in an impossible position, but he won and we saw a good horse. It told us to start stepping up in class.

"You could see what a green horse we had then. He really didn't know what his job was. He's a completely different animal now.

"Frankie was full of confidence. He said to me he loved the horse and he had said after Newmarket he really didn't think trip was an issue, that this horse had the speed for a mile but the aptitude for a mile and a half.

"We haven't discussed plans. The owners need to be consulted and we'll talk to them. I did hear Frankie mention the Irish Derby to Sheikh Mohammed, so that's maybe something to think about."

Dettori, who was given a two-day ban for interference, added: "I really like him. We stepped him up in distance, he keeps on improving and I thought it was a tremendous performance. Perhaps a pop at the Irish Derby could be on the cards."

Julia Feilden insists Emma's Gift will relish the six-furlong trip in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

The Newmarket handler feels a step up in distance will be beneficial for the two-year-old filly, who won well at Bath in May over five furlongs.

She said: "Since Bath, Emma's Gift has really matured and come on. She has a good draw at Ascot and I am confident the trip will suit her."

The filly will be partnered by her regular jockey Jimmy Quinn and Feilden added: "Jimmy (Quinn) knows how to ride her and they get on well. The form has worked in her favour and anything at Ascot will be a bonus for her."

Preview Of The Coronation Stakes

Aidan O'Brien expects conditions to favour Lillie Langtry greatly in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

The Timeform Fillies' 800 winner of last season flashed home in the Irish Guineas to finish fifth on her first start of the current campaign.

"We're very happy with her. It was her first run of the season at the Curragh and she was coming home really well. She's come out of the race very well and we always felt she was a very high-class filly. Everything has gone smoothly so far since the Curragh so we are looking forward to running her," said O'Brien.

"She was staying on strongly the last day and Johnny (Murtagh) felt she was coming home best of all, another 50 yards and she was probably nearly there so you'd have to be delighted with her for her first run. She's a very good mover who handles fast ground well and she has plenty of speed so good ground would be lovely."

Frankie Dettori teams up with Anna Salai for the first time in the Group One event. A product of the Andre Fabre-Godolphin production line, she was narrowly denied in the Irish Guineas.

Ahmed Ajtebi kicked for home a long way out at the Curragh and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni hopes a change of jockey will bring about a change in luck.

"Anna Salai was unlucky to get beaten on the line at the Curragh but she has come out of that race in good form and I have been pleased with her preparation," he told www.godolphin.com. "I am looking forward to seeing how Frankie Dettori gets on with her and she should go close."

Sent From Heaven is another filly bringing Classic form to the table, having finished fourth in a messy renewal of the English Guineas. That run proved she had trained on and connections have targeted this race ever since.

"She ran a great race in the Guineas last time. She has freshened up well and she ran well at Ascot last year," said trainer Barry Hills' son and assistant Charlie. "She was placed in the Fillies' Mile and her work has been very good. This has been the plan since the Guineas."

News From Our Man Kens "Master"

Mark Johnston last won the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot with Boscobel in 2007 and after getting off the mark for the week on Wednesday with Rainfall in the Jersey Stakes, the Middleham handler's confidence will be high.

He runs Monterosso, winner of four of his last five starts, and his only defeat came at the hands of the reopposing Green Moon, with whom he has a 6lb pull at the weights.

The trainer said: "He's a very progressive horse but there are a few variables obviously. He's got to continue to progress to win at this level and he's got to prove he can get the trip as he's never been over a mile and a half before."

He added: "He hasn't looked like stopping over 10 furlongs so far and Frankie (Dettori) is very confident that this horse can go over any trip because he settles so well, so we'll see."

Godolphin Eye The Jersey Stakes

Godolphin's Shakespearean bids to improve on his already impressive strike-rate in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The three-year-old has won four of his seven career starts and was one of the most eyecatching winners at the recent Derby meeting at Epsom.

He was having his first start for Saeed bin Suroor that day, having been trained in Middleham by Mark Johnston as a juvenile, when he won the Goffs Million Mile and finished a creditable sixth in the Racing Post Trophy.

"Shakespearean won well on his first start of the season and he has improved for the run," bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com.

"He is taking a step up in class but I think the distance suits him well. He is a big horse, but I think a stiff seven furlongs at Ascot will play to his strengths."

Richard Hannon's Lucky General looks to have plenty to find on the book, but the trainer expects the track to suit.

"The Jersey has been a lucky race for us and Lucky General might have a better chance than his price suggests," he told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"He owes us nothing, having won the Goffs Million Sprint in Ireland last year. Although his best form is at six furlongs, I have had this race in mind for a while now and feel that seven could suit him ideally.

"He'll also be much happier on the track than he was at Epsom last time."

Royal Ascot Day One And Bookmakers Take A Beating

Bookmakers were left reeling after a string of well-backed horses put punters in the driving seat on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

It was one long tale of woe in the first four races after backers got off to a flier thanks to French superstar Goldikova, who justified favouritism in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Equiano then landed a major gamble in the King's Stand Stakes before a Richard Hannon double through Canford Cliffs in the St James's Palace and Strong Suit in the Coventry left the bookmakers on the ropes.

Ghimaar's defeat in the Ascot Stakes won by Junior offered little respite, while the concluding Windsor Castle Stakes was little better as even though the gambled-on Metropolitan Man was turned over, the race was won by the well-backed Marine Commando.

"Goldikova, Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit all combined to hand punters a cracking start to the Royal meeting," said David Williams of Ladbrokes.

"Even Equiano was backed off the boards and after four races we were ready to pack up and walk home. It's been the best opening day for punters for decades. Our only consolation is we've got four days to claw it back."

William Hill had to admit that too many fancied horses were successful.

"Too many good things won to satisfy a bookmaker. We're on the ropes after day one, but decades of experience tell us this is a long five-round battle," said spokesman David Hood.

Irish layers told a similar story, with Paddy Power remarking: "Punters knew full well that this was a brilliant opening day's card, but they probably couldn't have done any better if they had tomorrow's newspaper in front of them.

"The books just about got their heads out of the water when Equiano won the King's Stand, but Richard Hughes well and truly stamped on them when he got Strong Suit up on the line in the Coventry. A great, great start for punters."

Northern Raider Takes The Spoils!

Marine Commando showed a likeable attitude to give Northern raiders Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan a welcome winner in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Hanagan, currently leading the jockeys' championship, had to be patient on the son of Pastoral Pursuits as the original gap he went for between Excello and Stone Of Folca was closed.

The two-year-old (9-2) showed experience beyond his years to get back into top gear once switched and he did well to hold off the late lunge of Ballydoyle's Petronius Maximus by a neck, with a nose back to Excello.

It was only Hanagan's second Royal winner after the shock 66-1 success of Cosmic Sun in the King George V Stakes last year.

Fahey said: "The two-year-olds look OK this year. His first run was just to get him some experience and he's all speed - we just want to get him to settle. This was the plan really."

News From Lambourn

Marcus Tregoning believes Fatanah should be able to handle the step up to a mile and a half in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

Although being by Green Desert, she stayed a mile and a quarter well when opening her account in a Sandown maiden before going down by only a short head to Principal Role in a Listed race at Newbury.

"She had won her maiden at the start very easily at Sandown and is a progressive type I'm sure. We're stepping up another couple of furlongs and the family, in my opinion, stay really well. Hopefully that won't be too much of an issue," the Lambourn trainer told At The Races.

"She's terrific. She's a very-nice looking filly and we're very lucky to have fillies like this one and Rumoush. They are out of full sisters so are closely related. This filly, being by Green Desert, is big and strong and scopey.

"The jump up to Listed class at Newbury was a terrific run and she almost won it."

Tadcaster Tom Has A Local Winner

Distant Memories, ridden by Jamie Spencer, wore down Oratory in a terrific finish to land a local success in the ladbrokes.com Stakes (Handicap) at York.

The 11-4 favourite, trained at nearby Tadcaster by Tom Tate, showed lots of battling qualities to get the better of Oratory by half a length after the pair had the race to themselves in the last quarter-mile.

"I was a little worried about the ground as he needs it soft really and there was just enough cut for him. He loves racing and he'll have to go for a Listed race now. I think that was his best run and if you get him on his ground he could step up in class," said Tate.

Dandys feeling Dandy!

The Dandy Nicholls-trained Victoire De Lyphar ran out a game winner of York's £100,000 Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy.

Sent off at 9-1 following his comeback victory at Doncaster in April, the three-year-old travelled strongly in the hands of the trainer's son Adrian.

Singeur and Frankie Dettori loomed up menacingly heading inside the final two furlongs but Victoire De Lyphar found most for pressure to score by a length and a quarter. Iver Bridge Lad ran a fine race to fill the runner-up spot, with Singeur third and Pastoral Player fourth.

The winning jockey said: "It was hard work but he's done it well in the end. It's great to have a winner round here as I'm from round here and it means a lot to me. Fair play to the old man, I was asking him when this horse would run and he said I would have to wait and see. This was his plan and that's why he's the boss.

"The horse is going to come on from this and although he was off the bridle a long way down he's galloped through the line lovely. He had the form to have a right shout and I'm just glad he's gone and proved it."

Tim Palin, manager for winning syndicate Middleham Park racing, said: "There are 12 owners in this particular syndicate.

"This horse was with Ben Haslam last year but because he was going to be a sprinter, we thought he would be better off going to Dandy and he's been there since the start of the year. He won nicely at Doncaster where the form has worked out well and this is great."

Gold Cup Preview

Manifest features among 17 possible runners in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot following the latest entry stage.

The four-year-old ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Yorkshire Cup last month and heads the betting for next Thursday's two-and-a-half-mile highlight as his trainer Henry Cecil bids for a sixth success in the race.

The Godolphin camp are leaving their options open, with Kite Wood, Holberg and Darley Sun featuring among five entries for Saeed bin Suroor.

Sir Michael Stoute's Ask is another major player along with the Luca Cumani-trained Purple Moon and Michael Jarvis' Opinion Poll.

Rite Of Passage and Age Of Aquarius could travel from Ireland, Kasbah Bliss is the sole French entry and Bannaby could represent Spain.

French Racing On Sunday

Connections of Sandbar are hoping the decision to supplement the filly will be rewarded in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly on Sunday.

The daughter of Oasis Dream is unbeaten in three starts this season, all at Saint-Cloud, and her owner Lady O'Reilly would like the Francois Rohaut-trained filly to pick up some black type.

"She's a very tough filly and home bred. Lady O'Reilly made a very brave move to supplement her," said the owner's racing manager James Kelly.

"It's very difficult to figure out the French form. Neither Lady O'Reilly or Francois Rohaut can make head or tail of it. All the fillies seem to be beating each other.

"Numerically it's a small field, but it certainly looks a very competitive one.

"It's a sporting thing of Lady O'Reilly to do, so hopefully her bravery will be rewarded with some Group One black type at the weekend."

There are no British or Irish runners among the nine fillies declared.

Three are trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre - Sarafina, Rosanara and Valasyra - while Andre Fabre is represented by Deluxe.

Bridge Of Peace, A Media Luz, Zagora and Heaven's Vault complete the field.

Duchess Dora Fancied..."bold show expected"

Duchess Dora will bid for her third win at Sandown from as many starts when she lines up in the totesport.com Scurry Stakes.

John Quinn's three-year-old won off a mark of 80 at the track as a juvenile and a 14lb higher mark was not enough to stop her making a winning return to the Esher venue in April.

She has since acquitted herself well in good company at Chester and York and Quinn is expecting a bold show this weekend.

"She obviously loves the place and is in good form, so we're looking forward to it," said Quinn.

"She was third in a good race at York last time and I've been very pleased with her since. This has been the plan for a while because she likes the track so much and it would be just the job if we can get her to win a Listed race."

Hoof It To Be Thereabouts At York...not like the owner!

Golfer Lee Westwood and his manager Andrew "Chubby" Chandler aim to keep in touch with racing at York despite being busy thousands of miles away.

Westwood is currently playing in the St Jude Classic in Memphis, while Hoof It, the horse he part-owns with Chandler, has a major chance in the Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy.

The Mick Easterby-trained sprinter has notched up a hat-trick of victories at Beverley, York and Haydock, and Chandler joked: "Mick's done very well with the horse, even in spite of us two trying to tell him what to do all the time. In all seriousness, though, Mick is his own man and has done a cracking job with him."

Chandler went on: "Hopefully he can get him going one more time at York. We're both northern lads so it will be smashing if he can get his nose in front on the Knavesmire again."

Hoof It began his winning spree this term at Beverley off a mark of 66 and returns to the Knavesmire some 28lb higher in the handicap. Despite that burden, connections are convinced he could still have the class to offset that ramp in weight.

"He's been a total revelation and has absolutely flown up the handicap this season," considered Chandler, head of International Sports Management, the agency that also looks after clients like Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan.

"We knew he was pretty good, but we've still been surprised as to how he has progressed this season. It's nice to have a horse that tries all the time. He never knows when he's beaten and the times he's been hit by the whip, we've been really impressed with how he's responded.

"I was at Haydock when he won last time and the fact the jockey was looking round his shoulder a couple of furlongs out was a nice feeling. We've got a nice draw down the middle and it looks like being cracking ground at York."

Westwood and Chandler are no strangers to the racing scene, and also have horses in training with Ian Williams and Mike de Kock in Dubai and South Africa. But it is Hoof It who is currently dominating their hearts and minds.

"It looks like we'll be OK to watch the race live on our phones at 9.15am our time," added Chandler. "It's nice to have this outlet of racing because neither of us want golf to rule our lives. As well as that, both me and Lee are mad keen on racing so it's nice when a good horse comes around. Hopefully he can show that."

Dettori Takes A Tumble

Frankie Dettori will be hoping for flying dismounts of a different kind at Royal Ascot next week after taking a tumble from Toolain at Sandown.

The Italian was aboard Michael Jarvis' newcomer in the totequadpot EBF Maiden Stakes and all was going to plan as he ranged upsides Ahmed Ajtebi and favourite Ecliptic (5-4) in front of the grandstands. But his mount jinked left and then right causing Dettori to fall.

The jockey said: "My horse saw the big screen, jinked twice and I fell off. Perhaps it will be a good omen for next week!"

Ajtebi's mount was rallying when Dettori exited the saddle and his departure allowed Mahmood Al Zarooni's representative to coast across the line some eight lengths to the good of 100-1 outsider Surrey Star.

Ajtebi added: "In this game you always need some luck and even if Frankie had stayed on, I would have finished close to him or won the race.

"I saw Frankie coming to me before his horse ducked but I hadn't used my stick at that point and once I saw Frankie come off, I stopped riding my horse as I was seven lengths clear."

Ascot

Officials at Ascot are likely to turn on the taps over the weekend ahead of the Royal meeting.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels is delighted with the state of the going at the moment, but he feels some watering is needed as he is keen to start the fixture on no worse than good to firm ground.

"The track is in good shape at the moment. The going is good, good to firm in places," he said.

"It's been strange this week because we were forecast an awful lot of rain and haven't received it. The last rain we did have was Tuesday morning. We had 14 millimetres overnight Monday into Tuesday, but despite rain being forecast every day, we haven't had any since.

"There's been a lot of rain to the south of us, but we've only had a few spits and spots and nothing really. I would have liked to have seen a bit of rain to be honest. This ground will now start to dry up a bit. I can see us putting a bit of water on over the weekend to hold it where it is.

"The aim is to start the meeting on good to firm to good ground and we need to apply a bit of water in order to achieve that."

The forecast for the five days of the meeting itself is pretty settled.

"The long-range forecast for next week does keep changing a little bit," Stickels told At The Races.

"Now I think it's going to remain mainly dry. There is an outside chance of a shower. There is certainly a chance of a shower on Monday but the forecast has been changeable and it wouldn't worry us if we had an odd shower during the week.

"It could be breezy and the maximum temperatures at the beginning of the week about 18C to 20C. It's due to warm up for the last couple of days of the meeting, Friday and Saturday, but we are not talking really hot, about 22C and 23C. It should be largely dry but quite breezy."

Ascot!

David Hayes believes Sir Michael Stoute's rejuvenated Kingsgate Native should be favourite for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next Tuesday - ahead of his own Australian speedster Nicconi.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard Nicconi, who has already scooped the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge by taking the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington in January.

Bookmakers are running scared of Hayes' challenger, who is the general 3-1 favourite, ahead of Kingsgate Native at 5-1. However, Hayes said: "He has been unplaced in his last two runs and I think Sir Michael Stoute's horse should be favourite."

He added: "Frankie sat on him the other day for the first time and I think he was pretty happy. They went fast and he gave him a good feel. When he wins, he wins well, but he can have a shocker so you can't be confident."

Despite having been beaten on his last two runs, Hayes put forward excuses for the reverses and believes dropping back to five furlongs will also be in his favour.

"The Newmarket was ran in incredibly bad conditions as a storm hit the track and I then ran him back too quick just two weeks later and he didn't back up," he said.

"He is undefeated first time up and he is undefeated over five furlongs. I have also been dying to put a visor on him for two years and he'll wear one for the first time next week.

"The Lightning is our premier sprint, too, and the form usually transfers. If he wins well then we might be tempted to run in the July Cup and it would enhance his stud value but it is most likely that this will be his last run and he'll be retired to stud in Australia."

Hannon On Canford Cliffs

Connections of Canford Cliffs believe he is unlikely to be inconvenienced by going round a bend for the first time in Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes.

Last year's Coventry Stakes winner finally lived up to the hype when running out a ready winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas.

He has ground to make up on his Newmarket conqueror Makfi and stablemate Dick Turpin, who has beaten him twice already this season, but Richard Hannon jnr, the trainer's son and assistant, is feeling bullish.

"He's in very good form and he's come out of the Irish race very well," he said.

"I wouldn't have thought going round a bend will bother him, he's very straightforward. He has ducked left on occasions but he's very straightforward generally.

"They went a very good gallop in Ireland and he was able to just get a nice tow off the leaders. The way he won, he won it so well, he never looked as if he was going to be beaten. He was very impressive and it definitely suited him being held up.

"He came home so well at Newmarket I was a little bit disappointed he didn't win that day. He'd had a prep run and there was no issue with the trip so it was maybe the dip that beat him.

"We are taking on the winner again but we'll still fancy him."

Having finished just in front of Canford Cliffs at Newmarket in second, Dick Turpin then filled the same spot in France behind subsequent impressive French Derby winner Lope De Vega.

Hannon added on At The Races: "You've got to respect him, he's done absolutely nothing wrong and when you look at the way that horse won the French Derby, there was no shame in being beaten by him. He's suffered a bit by being in Canford Cliffs' shadow but he's a very, very good horse."

Opinion On Opinion Poll

Opinion Poll's participation in the Gold Cup at Ascot is still up in the air after his fair performance at Goodwood on Friday evening.

Michael Jarvis' promising stayer finished third behind the impressive winner Holberg on ground that would have been plenty quick enough for him. With soft ground unlikely at the Royal meeting, Jarvis is holding fire on definite plans.

"We felt that we had to run him because he's a very idle worker at home and he was getting fairly unfit, so we had to get a run into him," said Jarvis.

"We are not quite sure where we'll go with him yet, whether he will run in the Ascot Gold Cup or not.

"He's very ground dependant and he's such a different horse on soft ground it's difficult to be positive about where he'll go yet.

"He's got an entry in the Curragh Cup (June 26) but it's even quick ground over there at the moment, just like here it can change in 24 hours though."

News From Michael Jarvis Yard

Michael Jarvis may have been out of luck in the Classics at the weekend but he is already looking forward to Royal Ascot, where he has singled out three of his runners as his best chances.

The veteran Newmarket handler believes the highly-progressive Alainmaar in the Hardwicke Stakes, promising juvenile Elzaam and the unexposed Rainbow Peak represent his best chances of the summer showpiece meeting.

"Alainmaar in the Hardwicke, he'll probably be one of our chief hopes I think," said Jarvis.

"Possibly the two-year-old that won up at York, Elzaam, in the Coventry and possibly Rainbow Peak in the Wolferton on Friday. The step back up to 10 furlongs should really suit him.

"I'll probably have about six or seven runners over the week but they would be our best chances, certainly the ones we've got the highest hopes for.

"The best thing about this stage of the Flat season is that if you're out of luck at one big meeting you don't have to wait long for the next one to come around."

Naughty, Naughty Again!

Aidan O'Brien has been officially charged by the British Horseracing Authority following Cape Blanco's victory in the Dante Stakes at York in May.

The Ballydoyle handler refused to allow his stable lad Pat Keating permission to trot the horse up in front of the BHA's veterinary officer and the senior racecourse veterinary surgeon as part of their examination of the colt.

O'Brien has been charged with breaches of Rule (A)37 and (B)83, in that he encouraged and/or caused Keating to refuse to comply with two instructions given by the stewards.

No date has yet been announced for the hearing.

Cecil Double Down By The Sea

A Brighton double hardly saved Henry Cecil and Tom Queally's miserable weekend, but at least it ended it on the right note.

Cecil headed to Epsom on Friday and Saturday looking to claim his 25th British Classic, while Queally was in search of riding his first, but Aviate, Timepiece and Bullet Train failed to fire in the Oaks and the Derby.

Pick of the successful pair over the undulations in Sussex was Aegean Shadow (100-30 favourite), who is unbeaten in two starts for Cecil and three from four in total as she defied repeated interference to win the Hardings Bar And Catering Services Handicap by a length.

Ebony Boom must rank leagues below the Epsom contenders in the order at Warren Place after seven previous losing outings, but he applied himself well as the 4-6 favourite for the Hannah Richardson Birthday Maiden Stakes and came home unchallenged.

"We would have rather been winning at Epsom, but never mind," said Cecil's assistant Mike Marshall. "We were a little bit down, but as Henry would tell you, that's racing and you just have to regroup and move on."

French Derby Review

Lope De Vega romped away with the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly to follow up his victory in the French 2000 Guineas.

Always prominent, he slipped his field early in the straight in the hands of Maxime Guyon and quickly pulled several lengths clear.

None of his rivals got near enough to put in a challenge and the Andre Fabre-trained colt scored easily by three lengths from Planteur, with Frankie Dettori third on Paid Perdu.

Ryan Moore, bidding to follow up his Epsom triumph, had Ice Blue handy, while Brian Meehan's Dancing David and Ballydoyle pair Viscount Nelson and Cape Blanco were also well placed, but it was a one-horse race once Lope De Vega hit the front.

Fabre said: "I had a doubt about him staying. He is from a Machiavellian family, so there was a question mark there. I am tempted to drop him back to a mile for the Marois (at Deauville in August). It is better to run over too short than too far.

"He is an excitable kind of horse, so I don't want to travel him too far, but if he stays in training as a four-year-old - and there is a strong possibility he will - he could then possibly have a race in England."

Guyon added: "It was always the plan to stay up with the pace. I knew the horse had loads of pace, so straight away I was able to get a good position.

"I was on the French 2000 Guineas winner, so I knew I was on a good horse and I knew he would run well. It was a surprise that no one came to me to give chase in the straight. I have ridden some very good horses, but this horse is special."

Dettori, delighted with the effort of Pain Perdu, said: "We thought if we were in the first four it would be an achievement as it looked a very hot race, and we have managed to finish third, which is great. The winner put up a fantastic performance."

Cape Blanco finished 10th, with stablemate Viscount Nelson fifth, and Aidan O'Brien said: "I didn't really see what happened during the race, but Cape Blanco loves fast ground and Johnny (Murtagh) said he didn't pick up on the ground out there, so I don't really know what happened."

What A Derby

Bookmakers breathed a sigh of relief as 6-1 chance Workforce overcame the Ballydoyle and Godolphin battalions with his scintillating performance in the Investec Derby.

Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey was the top dog in the ante-post betting for the premier Classic, but after a setback ruled him out of the race, punters tried to recoup their losses on his stablemate Jan Vermeer.

But the 9-4 favourite could finish only fourth, while housewives' favourite Frankie Dettori, backed off the boards in the morning to be sent off at 9-2 on Rewilding, was third.

The fact that At First Sight filled the runner-up spot at 100-1 was another blow to punters.

David Williams, spokesman for Ladbrokes, said: "The public plunge on Rewilding saw us go into the race with real Frankie fear. Workforce rode to our rescue and we've no complaints at all.

"Even the placed horses were good for us. It wasn't quite a bonanza, but it was certainly a day for the bookies."

Totesport spokesman George Primarolo echoed those sentiments, adding: "After the plunge on Jan Vermeer a week ago, the public lumped on Rewilding as if defeat was out of the question and there would have been a multi-million-pound payout if either had won.

"However, Ryan Moore has ridden to the rescue and we'll be raising a glass to the champion jockey."

William Hill did actually see some money for the winner and their spokesman David Hood believes it was a good result for punters and layers alike.

"We took everyone's money with our 3-1 on Jan Vermeer in the morning, but we were able to be brave as we were laying plenty of others in the race, among them Workforce," said Hood.

Ouch! Get Well Soon Freddy

Frederik Tylicki could be out of action for some time after suffering a serious shoulder injury in a fall at Musselburgh on Saturday.

The talented jockey parted company with Sea Of Leaves in the valuable totescoop6 Scottish Sprint Cup and having suffered a heavy fall, he was taken to hospital to assess the damage.

Tylicki's agent Richard Hale said: "He's been released from hospital but he's fractured his left shoulder blade and also dislocated his shoulder, so it was a nasty one."

He added: "He'll go and see a specialist in the next couple of days and we'll find out then how long he'll be out for, but I'd guess it will at least a month or six weeks."

Wedneasday Late Info`...see what you think. Gave Pepper Lane 10/1 WINNER Yesterday

EXCUSEZ MOI 8.10 Ripon comes back to the scene of his biggest career win and with his stable bang in form (4 winner and 3 places from their last 10 runners) he rates a good e/w bet. His draw will allow him to slot in behind and get a good tow through the race before unleashing his trademark turn-of-foot. Racing off 92 today he's won off marks higher than this (99 and 96), whilst he's always run good races in handicaps at this track ( 2wins from 5 visits) - mainly off higher marks (raced here off marks of 94 (beaten 9 1/4L drawn the wrong side), 95 (beaten 2 1/4L), won off 85 and 99, whilst also beaten 4 1/2L off 100. In all with the stable going well he has conditions to suit.

SHAWKATENGO 3.10 is a monster price at 40-1 (get on quick) given that he'll absolutely love the drop down to 5f. 6 of his 7 runs have been on the a/w, where you have to stay the trip well, and he's just been failing to get home over the 6f having forced the pace. Back down to 5f with a good draw near the rails where he can bang out and get a good early position, and having been dropped 2lb in the handicap and racing off the lightest weight he's ever carried the 40-1 is too big to ignore.

Berry Busy With Look Busy

Alan Berry has his heart set on one more crack at the Nunthorpe Stakes at York with his admirable sprinter Look Busy.

The five-year-old mare is to be retired at the end of the season, but proved at the weekend she has lost none of her dash when getting up close home to win a conditions race at Beverley.

Her next race will be the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Derby day, June 27.

"She's fine and came out of it grand. She was in the Dash at Epsom on Saturday but there was no point going for that because she would have had a penalty and top weight," said Berry.

"Hopefully we'll go to Ireland on Derby day. She's won at the Curragh before, so hopefully we can get lucky again. She seems as good as ever, but she'll go to Newmarket at the end of the year to the sales I guess.

"I know it's tilting at stars, but I'd love to have another go at the Nunthorpe - one day it might turn up soft. I don't think she needs it soft, but it just seems to inconvenience the others.

"She ran well at Haydock in the Temple considering she lost her front shoes and at Beverley she won well, even though she didn't hit the front until late.

"You just need a lot of luck in those sprints. I haven't been having any so hopefully it's about to change. She's kept the boat afloat for a couple of years and she'll take a bit of replacing."

Crying Lightening Beats Our Selection And May Go To Royal Ascot

Peter Chapple-Hyam's return to form continued at Leicester when newcomer Crying Lightening showed a nice turn of foot in the EBF Forest Maiden Stakes to book a possible Royal Ascot trip.

Chapple-Hyam landed a double at the track on Monday and like one of those winners, footballer Joey Barton is involved in the ownership along with former Chelsea man Claudio Pizzaro.

Clive Brittain's Elshabakiya (our selection) was sent off the 11-8 favourite on the back of a promising debut but had no answer to the 7-2 chance, who won by half a length in the hands of Martin Dwyer.

Chapple-Hyam said: "It's up to the boys whether they want to go to Ascot. That is what she was bought for and that is what we'll try to do. She's always worked very well, but I thought Clive's would be tough to beat."