Ryedale ace sprinter to capture star prize

The plum mount has gone to John Carroll, following a one-day suspension picked up by Sheriff Hutton-based Kevin Darley, who has ridden the Tim Easterby-trained filly to all her wins but who will miss tomorrow's action.

Carroll, who was the regular rider of Mind Games, Romantic Myth's sire, should have no difficulty proving an effective replacement on a juvenile whose talent is superceded only by her wonderful temperament.

Held in the highest regard by Easterby, who saw her as a Royal Ascot filly even before she had won her first race, at Ripon in April, Romantic Myth has done everything asked of her to date in some style.

Tomorrow's £125,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint, which Easterby won two years ago with Pipalong, will not be a cakewalk for Romantic Myth.

But I expect her to underline her sheer class by coming out on top again before being prepared for the Lowther Stakes on Knavesmire next month.

The spectacular Wokingham Handicap winner Harmonic Way (1.30) can provide punters with a successful start to the Newbury meeting while the consistent Blueberry Forest (2.00) and the high-class Claxon (3.40) can complete a double for trainer John Dunlop.

At Newmarket, Dunlop can also make his presence felt with Firecrest, who tackles the £22,500 Foodbrokers Aphrodite Stakes, a Listed event.

Well placed to win four minor races, Firecrest has grown in stature and now looks capable of coping with this step up in class.

Also worth noting at HQ are North Yorkshire challengers, the consistent Fiori (3.15) and the speedy Guinea Hunter (4.45), the mount of Jimmy Fortune.

The £10,000 L'Anson Brothers Centenary Bell-Ringer Handicap takes pride of place at Ripon and, once again, John Dunlop promises to have a big say.

Original Spin is the Sussex handler's representative, and this progressive three-year-old, winner of her last two starts, looks bound for a hat-trick.

Muffled can be yet another Dunlop winner in the Eurest North East Maiden Handicap.

The mount of crack apprentice Lee Newman, Muffled appreciated the return to this distance of six furlongs when narrowly beaten at Leicester a fortnight ago.

Recent Musselburgh winner Jammie Dodger (2.20) and the consistent Roman King (3.25) are another brace of likely scorers at Ripon.

Across the Humber Bridge, a £50,000 prize is up for grabs at Market Rasen in the shape of the Tote Summer Special Showcase Handicap Chase.

This valuable event, televised live by Channel 4, plays host to tomorrow's Nap selection Native Recruit, easy winner of both his starts this season and a horse very much on the upgrade.

Trained by Paul Webber and the mount of Mick Fitzgerald, Native Recruit can cope with his step up in class to clinch the prize.

Evening Press racing tipster Tom O'Ryan notched his fourth Nap success in five days when Royal Artist (11-10 fav) won at Leicester yesterday.

O'Ryan, a Racing Post staff writer, continues to lead the Racing Post/Coral Naps Competition between national and provincial newspapers' tipsters.

His selections for tomorrow's racing are:

NEWBURY

1.30...............Harmonic Way

2.00...........Blueberry Forest

2.35..............Romantic Myth

3.10..........................Bravado

3.40.............................Claxon

4.10............First Impression

4.40...........................Fredora

NEWMARKET

2.10.......................Alnahaam

2.40.........................Capricho

3.15................................Fiori

3.45.........................Firecrest

4.15.........................Argentan

4.45...............Guinea Hunter

5.20..........................Nashaab

RIPON

2.20.............Jammie Dodger

2.55.........Pertemps Jardine

3.25...................Roman King

3.55.................Original Spin

4.25..........................Joondey

5.00...........................Muffled

MARKET RASEN

(televised races)

3.00....Native Recruit (Nap)

4.30..................Eden Dancer