Mark Johnston, currently in the US, attending the Keeneland Yearling Sales in Kentucky - which were yesterday suspended after the atrocities in New York - can land a major victory a bit closer to home tomorrow.
The North Yorkshire trainer sends Double Honour to Doncaster for the £50,000 GNER Doncaster Cup and can clinch this prestigious staying prize, which he won three times in the nineties with Double Trigger.
Double Honour, who finished just out of the money in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot in June, went on to prove himself a high-class stayer in the making when beating all except the redoubtable Persian Punch in the Goodwood Cup.
Tomorrow's extra two furlongs should suit Double Honour down to the ground and George Duffield's mount should take all the beating.
Johnston can also win the opening Ralph Raper Memorial Prince Of Wales Nursery Handicap with Ela D'Argent.
Closely related to the stable's tough and talented handicapper Mana D'Argent, this progressive two-year-old showed her appreciation for a step up to tomorrow's distance of a mile at Newcastle last time when running out an easy winner.
Ela D'Argent looks attractively weighted on her handicap debut and is fancied to have the edge over Tim Easterby's Bollin Eric, a highly-rated colt, who got off the mark in good style at Beverley recently.
Henry Cecil has had a hugely disappointing year, but the Warren Place maestro has good prospects of gaining some consolation with Half Glance in the £40,000 Rothmans Royal May Hill Stakes.
This Danehill filly created a big impression when making a winning debut at Newmarket last month and looks capable of coping with this step up to Group 3 level. Richard Quinn has the mount on the nap selection.
Tough Speed, winner of the Bradford & Bingley Handicap at York last month, should not be underestimated as he elevates to Group 3 level in the GNER White Rose Park Stakes.
Sir Michael Stoute's colt defied top-weight and also overcame trouble in running to win on Knavesmire. We probably haven't seen the best of him yet.
Tomorrow's tips:
DONCASTER
1.30 - Ela D'Argent
2.05 - Tough Speed
2-35 - Half Glance (NAP)
3.10 - Double Honour
3.40 - Honesty Fair
4.10 - Astonished
4.40 - Forever Times
CHEPSTOW
1.45 - Dubai Excellence
2.15 - Snow Leopard
2.45 - Dancing King
3.20 - Shara
3.50 - Miss Moselle
4.20 - Law Commission
4.50 - Pop The Cork
Updated: 12:12 Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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