Racing by Tom O'Ryan

Pipalong, probably the best two-year-old in the north who lost her unbeaten record at Royal Ascot, can get back in the winning groove at Newmarket tomorrow.

The Tim Easterby-trained filly bids for the Charles Heidsieck Champagne Cherry Hinton Stakes and is napped to give Norton jockey Lindsay Charnock his first Group-race victory in a 27-year career.

Charnock rode Pipalong to her first two wins at Ripon and York, but was replaced at Royal Ascot by Kieren Fallon, who partnered the youngster in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Strongly fancied to score, Pipalong failed to go the early pace but picked up in tremendous style two furlongs out and, staying on gamely, finished second to the classy Bint Allayl, whom she had previously beaten narrowly at York when conceding 5lbs.

Tomorrow Pipalong steps up from five furlongs to six, a trip which should suit her admirably. In Lindsay Charnock she has a jockey who believes her to be 'something special', and from a stable in dynamic form, she is selected to come through this test with flying colours.

The £55,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes is the most valuable race on the card and preference here is for Germano, the mount of Pat Eddery.

Trained by Geoff Wragg, Germano was beaten half a length by Posidonas in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the pair finishing one and a half lengths ahead of the odds-on Swain.

The promising Meneer (2.05) can take the opening honours, while Bowcliffe (2.35) is another for the notebook.

Eric Alston's gelding finished a creditable second to La Modiste at Doncaster just over a week ago, an improved effort on his previous performances this season. He promises to go well tomorrow in the safe hands of champion jockey Kieren Fallon.

At Pontefract, Sunset Lady can clinch the first of the season's two-year-old handicaps, the Dianne Nursery.

Pat Haslam's filly got off the mark at her second attempt in a seller at Thirsk and has secured a handy weight here. She can prove herself better than selling class by lifting this six furlongs prize.

The retiring Lynda Ramsden has an unprecedented record on this course, and Ray Of Sunshine should provide the Sandhutton trainer with another Pontefract winner in the St Giles Handicap.

Successful at Thirsk last month, Ray Of Sunshine has since followed up in fine style at Redcar. He can defy a 7lb penalty in the hands of stable-jockey Jimmy Fortune.

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