Cape To Rio set for further step on journey to Ascot

Had the innovative agenda of Racing For Change animated the debate over its switch from Wednesday to Saturday in 1995, perhaps the Investec Derby would now have found its optimal niche at an evening meeting instead. As things stand, tonight's Blue Square card at Sandown remains the best of the year for thirsty Londoners on a summer night.

It would not be at all surprising should they see a winner competent to follow up at Royal Ascot next month. Given the depth of juvenile resources already established by Richard Hannon, for instance, Cape To Rio will be expected to extend his stable's fine record in the National Stakes.

And the Gold Cup at Ascot looks a guaranteed target for the winner of the Henry II Stakes. Opinion Poll strolled home by 10 lengths on his comeback at Nottingham, but the ground will be much quicker tonight and only the discouraging form of Saeed Bin Suroor's stable tempers interest in Darley Sun. Stand by, meanwhile, for dramatic improvement from Saptapadi now that he steps up in distance.

His connections provide a strong fancy for the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in Glass Harmonium, who is emulating many of their previous models by thriving with maturity.

His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, yesterday confirmed his intention to persevere towards the Derby with Workforce after taking the colt for a gallop over the all-weather track at Lingfield. An arresting winner of his debut at Goodwood last autumn, Workforce looked green and awkward on the firm ground in the Dante Stakes and clearly remains entitled to major progress at Epsom.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khaled Abdulla, confirmed that his patron would probably be represented by both Workforce and Bullet Train, winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial for Henry Cecil. "Workforce travelled very smoothly in between two lead horses, quickened up nicely to go between them, and went on with the other horse to finish nicely on the bridle," Grimthorpe said. "The whole idea was just to give him a bit more racecourse experience, really. He's only had two starts. I have to speak to the prince just to confirm he's happy [but] Sir Michael was very positive and I would say it would be all systems go."

Makfi ready for Royal Ascot rematch

2000 Guineas shocker Makfi is ready for a rematch with Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The highlight on Day One is firmly on the cards for the unbeaten French colt, who stunned punters with his 33-1 victory at Newmarket.

That form has worked out extremely well, with runner-up Dick Turpin occupying the same position in the France, and Canford Cliffs, third at HQ, storming home in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh.

Makfi's trainer Mikel Delzangles said: "Canford Cliffs won very easily and I think the mile in Ireland suited him well. Makfi has not been doing too much, but he came back from Newmarket very well and we have kept his condition.

"He has only had three runs in his life, two of them this year. He is much harder, he knows he is a racehorse now and is going the right way."

Delzangles sent out Chineur to win the King's Stand the year (2005) the meeting was held at York.

Coral: 7-4 Canford Cliffs, 2 Makfi, 5 Dick Turpin, Steinbeck.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold believes a crack at the Coronation Stakes with Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah could prove too tempting to resist.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly would need to be supplemented for the race won by Ghanaati in the Sheikh's colours last season.

Ed Dunlop's Snow Fairy will be supplemented for the Oaks at Epsom on June 4 at a cost of £20,000 - and will be ridden by champion Ryan Moore.

The daughter of Intikhab routed what looked to be a competitive field at Goodwood on her first start over 10 furlongs.

While Dunlop admits an extra two furlongs is another step into the unknown, connections decided to take the plunge.

Ladbrokes: 5 Rumoush, Aviate, 7 Timepiece, 10 Akdarena, Remember When, 12 Sajjhaa, 14 Ceilidh House, Gertrude Bell, Snow Fairy, 16 bar.

Tricky stuff today punters but I'm hoping for a big run from the Michael Jarvis-trained Yashrid (3.10) and Philip Robinson at Ripon.

Stepped up in trip now after three runs over a mile to earn a handicap mark, the son of Rahy could be running off a fairly lenient mark.

The form of Tim Easterby's Off Chance (3.40) looks rock solid and she can open her seasonal account under regular pilot Duran Fentiman.