DERBY winner Motivator, successful on Knavesmire in May, has been presented with a golden opportunity to extend his unbeaten record at Sandown tomorrow.

Following the shock news that Shamardal, his big rival, has met with an injury and will not race again, Motivator looks sure to start at long odds-on for the £400,000 Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

A dual winner last term, which included a fluent victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, Motivator picked up where he left off at York in May when winning the Dante Stakes, a triumph which acted as a perfect springboard to Epsom where he ran out an impressive winner of the Vodafone Derby.

Johnny Murtagh, his regular rider this season, will be back on board tomorrow when Motivator faces six rivals.

With Shamardal ruled out of the reckoning, Michael Bell's stable star may have most to fear from Starcraft, who finished third to Valixir in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York.

Tomorrow's extra two furlongs promises to suit Starcraft but he has a mountain to climb if he is to knock Motivator off his top perch.

Boogie Street, who found only French raider Chineur too strong in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, gets the chance of compensation at Sandown.

Richard Hannon's speedster goes for the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Sprint Stakes with Richard Hughes again in the saddle.

Also worth noting are Pentecost, who bids to repeat last year's win in the totescoop6 Heritage Handicap, and the classy Echelon, who has the Weatherbys Bank Stakes as her target.

At Beverley, Estepona promises to make a bold bid in the Eltherington Handicap.

An impressive winner at Nottingham two outings ago, Julie Camacho's gelding suffered a short-head defeat by Tabadul in a messy race on this course last time out. He remains a horse to keep on the right side and is napped to resume winning ways here.

The Coachman Caravans Quality Handicap over five furlongs offers Harrison's Flyer a good opportunity to gain his second success of the season for Malton trainer Richard Fahey.

The consistent Bolton Hall (4.10) and the promising California Laws (5.45) are two others to note.

At Haydock, the £75,000 Old Newton Cup, sponsored by bet365, takes pride of place, and, by Royal appointment, York-based jockey Robert Winston could enjoy a moment to savour.

Winston teams up with Promotion, owned by the Queen and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. A creditable fifth to stablemate Imperial Stride in a hot handicap at Royal Ascot at York, Promotion, who finished runner-up in the John Smith's Cup, also on Knavesmire last summer, should run a big race.

Saturday's tips

Sandown

2.05 Boogie Street; 2.35 Pentecost; 3.15 Motivator; 3.45 Anak Pekan; 4.20 Echelon; 4.50 Walkonthewildside; 5.25 Hope An Glory.

Beverley

2.25 Holy Blessing; 3.00 Confidential Lady; 3.35 Harrison's Flyer; 4.10 Bolton Hall; 4.40 Estopona (NAP); 5.15 Classic Event; 5.45 California Laws.

Haydock

2.20 Twyla Tharp; 2.50 Promotion; 3.30 Wrighty Almighty; 4.00 The Geezer; 4.30 Quito; 5.05 Winthorpe; 5.35 Son Of Thunder.

Tomorrow's other meetings are: Carlisle (evening, Flat), Leicester (afternoon, Flat) and Nottingham (evening, Flat).

This afternoon's Warwick meeting was called off yesterday (waterlogged).

Updated: 12:41 Friday, July 01, 2005