Choisir, a revelation at Royal Ascot, bids at Newmarket tomorrow to confirm his status as the season's leading sprinter in the latest chapter of a thrilling tale which could lead to York next month.

Success for the Australian-trained speedster in the £250,000 Darley July Cup could well tee him up for a prolonged stay in Britain to take in the Nunthorpe Stakes on Knavesmire in mid-August.

Choisir became the first Australian-trained winner of a race in Britain when he won the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, and then he produced an encore at the same meeting in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Five or six furlongs seem to come alike to this gaint-sized colt, whose trailblazing tactics mean that he has not been challenged by a rival in his two races so far.

The second of his Ascot wins was gained at the main expense of Airwave, last season's champion juvenile sprinting filly, who was unable to peg him back inside the final furlong.

It transpired that Henry Candy's charge was in-season at Ascot, which may, or may not, have affected her performance.

Many will be backing her tomorrow to reverse the placings, with Kieren Fallon taking over from the suspended Dane O'Neill.

Choisir, though, will be very hard to catch, particularly as he has drawn the favoured number one stall, right next to the inside rail.

North Yorkshire interest centres on David Nicholls, who saddles three runners, including Continent and Bahamian Pirate, who finished first and second in this Group 1 event 12 months ago.

Mark Johnston, whose Attraction was a brilliant winner of yesterday's Cherry Hinton Stakes under Kevin Darley, can follow-up in tomorrow's Weatherbys Superlative Stakes with Chester Le Street.

The mount of Darryll Holland, Chester Le Street looks ready for this step up to Group 3 company after a runaway win at Newmarket last time.

In the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup, Tim Easterby's Tough Love has obvious claims after his sterling run in the Royal Hunt Cup, but I prefer Nap selection Grizedale, who finished third in this race last year when trained by Ed Dunlop.

Grizdale is now with John Akehurst, whose Capricho won last year's race only to be disqualified after it was discovered that he ran without his weightcloth.

At Doncaster's evening meeting, Norton trainer Brian Ellison and his daughter Lorraine can win the Dunnington Amateur Riders' Handicap for the second sucessive year with Mr Fortywinks.

Balmont, trained by Jeremy Noseda will be popular in the Donns Solicitors Maiden Stakes.

Tomorrow's tips

NEWMARKET

1.45 South Atlantic, 2.15 Chester Le Street, 2.50 Choisir, 3.25 Grizedale (Nap), 4.00 Noyac, 4.35 Authority, 5.05 Factor Fifteen.

Doncaster

6.45 Mr Fortywinks, 7.15 Balmont, 7.45 Imperial Stride, 8.15 Theatre Time, 8.45 Dicharachera, 9.15 Tre Colline

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Epsom, Folkestone and Warwick.

Updated: 11:58 Wednesday, July 09, 2003