WITH the ground against big North Yorkshire hope Somnus, Balmont can steal the thunder on the final day of Royal Ascot at York tomorrow by carrying off the £250,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Trained by Jeremy Noseda, who has already had a winner at this meeting - Proclamation in the Jersey Stakes - Balmont is long overdue a winning turn, but is fancied to find opportunity knocking on this course, where he won the Gimcrack Stakes in 2003.

Having gone through last season without a victory, Balmont may, you might think, represent a precarious selection.

But he showed himself to be in great heart on his latest outing in the Temple Stakes at Sandown where he failed by only two short-heads over an inadequate five furlongs to beat Celtic Mill and Orientor.

An excellent third in the July Cup at Newmarket last season, Balmont has plenty going for him in this thrilling contest.

Had the ground on Knavesmire been riding on the soft side, I would have had no hesitation in nominating Somnus for this Group 1 prize.

But with the sun due to shine today and again tomorrow, conditions underfoot are set to become quicker, which counts firmly against Tim Easterby's star performer, a dual Group 1 winner last season.

North Yorkshire trainers still have sound prospects of a winner tomorrow and Bryan Smart and John Quinn could figure on the scoresheet.

Smart saddles Titus Alone in the Windsor Castle Stakes and Kevin Darley's mount is napped to come out on top.

Successful on his debut at Musselburgh, Titus Alone gained a wide-margin win on his next outing at Redcar, creating a big impression in the process.

Smart's other useful two-year-old, Sir Xaar, ran a fine race to finish in the frame here in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes, and Titus Alone is fancied to step up to the number one slot. Crow Wood, who goes for the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap, provides Quinn with an excellent chance of another major triumph.

The gelding scored for the Settrington trainer at Epsom on Derby Day and has good prospects of following-up with Kieren Fallon again booked for the mount.

Fallon, who earned himself a vote for the ride of the week on the course yesterday when coming from last to first on Indigo Cat, may be able to further add to his Royal Ascot tally aboard Powerscourt in the Hardwicke Stakes. Trained, like Indigo Cat, by Aidan O'Brien, Powerscourt won the Great Volteigeur Stakes on this course as a juvenile and although he raced mainly over ten furlongs last season, when he gained one victory, the step up to a mile and a half tomorrow should suit him better.

The Wokingham Handicap will to be fast and furious stuff and Iffraaj promises to be hard to beat in a wide-open contest.

The Michael Jarvis-trained colt has won both his races this season and was very impressive in the Victoria Cup on his latest start.

The Queen Alexandra Stakes closes the card - and brings to an end this historic meeting - Al Eile, a versatile mare from Ireland, might well be capable to lift this long-distance event, which is run over a mammoth two and three-quarter miles, the first time such a distance has been raced over on Knavesmire.

Saturday's tips:

Royal Ascot at York

2-30 Titus Alone (NAP)

3-05 Powerscourt

3-45 Balmont

4-20 Alderney Race

4-55 Crow Wood

5-30 Al Eile

Updated: 11:22 Friday, June 17, 2005