Henry Cecil’s filly, unbeaten to date, will certainly be a worthy favourite, but it is never wise to take a short price when a dark horse such as Shamadara (4.20) lurks further down the field.Those who feel that this year’s Oaks was an unusually poor renewal will want to take a chance on Alain du Royer-Dupre’s French challenger, who is by Kahyasi, the 1988 Derby winner, out of a half-sister to Shergar, and was the convincing winner of a Group Two prize at Longchamp last month.Should Lady Carla fail tomorrow, it will prompt a rapid rethink for Coral, who yesterday made her the 5-1 third favourite when opening a book on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot two weeks today. Sanmartino (3.40), who ran very well over an inadequate trip at Royal Ascot, returns to the course and distance of his Ebor success last year and is a worthwhile alternative to the market leader.A similar comment applies to tomorrow’s Irish Oaks, which at first sight is simply a lap of honour for Lady Carla, who won the Oaks at Epsom last month by an astonishing nine lengths. He might ideally prefer a slightly faster surface, but when any number of bookmakers are offering him at 25-1, it is a chance worth taking.The remainder of the televised card is less inviting, though Keston Pond (next best 3.05), who has competed over both six furlongs and a mile recently, must stand a good chance over what may now be his ideal trip of seven furlongs.Celeric, the Northumberland Plate winner, will be a raging favourite for the rated handicap, but this is a trickier contest than it might appear. “It will be nice not to worry about reading the pitch or working out field placings and bowling changes,” he said.Today’s match, meanwhile represents a kind of homecoming for the Cornishman, Penberthy, whose earliest memories of a Lord’s final were as a three-year- old taken along by his family to watch Troon win the first of three National Village Championships between 1972-76. His father, Gerald, played in the 1973 triumph.”Lord’s has usually been a lucky place for me,” he said.

“I did all right playing for Young England there and although it was a disappointment to lose the NatWest final last year I was part of the team that won it in 1992.”LANCASHIRE (from): M A Atherton, M Watkinson (capt), J E R Gallian, J P Crawley, N H Fairbrother, G D Lloyd, N J Speak, W K Hegg (wkt), I D Austin, S Elworthy, G Chapple, G Yates, P J Martin.NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (from): A Fordham, R R Montgomerie, D J Capel, R J Bailey (capt), M B Loye, R J Warren (wkt), K M Curran, T C Walton, A L Penberthy, J E Emburey, C E L Ambrose, J P Taylor.. Spirito Libro, who finished third at 50-1 in Sandown’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap, and Tertium, runner-up to Yeast in the Royal Hunt Cup, will both go to post with every chance, but at the early prices – and bearing in mind those four places – there can be only one choice.SEVENTEENS LUCKY (nap 4.15) goes well at York, has a very fair weight and finished third in a strong handicap last time out. In such a tough, and possibly rough, race, experience will be an important asset, and anyone who believes value is the key to betting will be itching to take them on.There are several in today’s field with both experience and form in top handicaps, but only two start the morning at a single-figure price. This, as all students of euphemism will know, actually means, “we have nothing but handicaps for you this afternoon”, and those who prefer a higher class of racing must wait for the Irish Oaks at the Curragh tomorrow.
When handicaps are as intriguing as the Magnet Cup, though, there can be little cause for complaint, and with an overnight declaration of 17 runners almost guaranteeing four places for each-way bets, this is a contest which deserves considerable scrutiny.Best of all, the two horses which head the market, Arctiid and Lakeline Legend, are both talking horses who have yet to win anything more important than a maiden. Fears have been expressed for Northern Ireland’s biggest race due to current unrest in the province.. Racing

As the music fades at the start of Channel 4’s broadcast from the Knavesmire today, one of the presenters will doubtless utter the time-honoured phrase, “we have four very competitive races for you this afternoon”.

David Barron’s sprinter is quoted at 7-1 (from 14-1) by William Hill and 8-1 (from 16- 1) by Ladbrokes.n John Hills attempts to capture another big overseas prize with Glide Path in the pounds 50,000 Ulster Harp Derby at Down Royal today. “He won the pounds 50,000 Stockholm Cup last year and it would be nice to knock another one in the bag,” the trainer said. She was registering the 13th victory of her career and her third in a Listed race.
“Our trainer, Bryn Palling, has done marvellously well to keep her going. We were thinking about retiring her,” her part-owner, Paul Young, said. “But she’s done so well we might keep her going next season and we’ll try and win a little Group race with her.”Branston Abby’s main aim will be the Haydock Park Sprint Trophy in which she finished second last year. And there is every possibility that she will race on next season.n Coastal Bluff is the new favourite for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood three weeks today after his victory at York yesterday.

All is not lost for Branston Abby who will soon be back on the record trail, while Carranita, bought for just 800 guineas, will try to secure a Group race win. But she could finish only fourth as Carranita, ridden by the in-form Tim Sprake stole the show, sprinting home by four lengths from Daring Destiny in the Manchester-Singapore Summer Stakes. Branston Abby was sent off 15-8 favourite to match the post-war best of 22 wins by a mare recorded by Laurel Queen. Carranita was the mare who called the shots at York yesterday as Branston Abby failed to create a slice of history.