THERE have been some magical names scrawled on the 1000 Guineas roll of honour down the years and for all those Newmarket dogs which have been barking the moniker of Rainbow View for the past 10 months, there is only going to be one winner today.
Even before trainer John Gosden let loose George Strawbridge's home- bred filly for the first time last July, the vibes hinted at something special and she hasn't let her admirers down. A six-length winner on her debut, she stepped up to Group Three and beat eight previous winners by six lengths and upwards again.
Then as low as 5/1 for today's Classic, her price was halved to 5/2 after she won the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting and by the time she ended her season by easing home in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot, she was down to 7/4.
The only filly to give her any kind of a race in those four outings was the Ascot second Fantasia and, despite having sluiced up in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago on her re-appearance, she won't be in opposition today having been bought by Strawbridge during the winter and given the French Guineas to target next weekend.
Everything I've seen and heard of this filly suggests she is banker material this afternoon and despite the short price, I'm on. Ghanaati looks one for later in the season and could fill a minor placing today but the biggest danger for me comes from the thoroughly tried and tested Heart Shaped.
Her Breeders' Cup run suggests she will win a Group One in due course but she might have to avoid Rainbow View to do so. At around 16/1 this afternoon, however, she merits each-way support in a race where the favourite might just be the best value 11/10 we've been offered in a long, long time.
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CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE
TODAY'S other main betting surrounds the final round of matches in the Coca-Cola Championship where, with Wolves already in title party mood at home to Doncaster, six other clubs are battling for the second automatic promotion place and the four spots in the play-offs.
Game of the day is at Reading where the home side are 5/4 to beat Birmingham (2/1) and leapfrog Alex McLeish's team on goal difference. That might be enough for automatic promotion but the problem for both these teams is Sheffield United, who would finish second by winning at Crystal Palace if Birmingham fail to win at Reading.
United have the second best away league record behind Wolves but they are plenty short enough at 8/13 today. Just below the top four, it's all very tight between Cardiff, Burnley and Preston for the two other play-off spots.
With the faltering Cardiff away to Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon, the bet for me has to be a home treble featuring Reading, Burnley and Preston at just over 4/1. If those three can collect, we can work out the promotion arithmetic with glass in hand.
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SPECIAL DELIVERY
THOSE who heeded last week's advice to cash in on the unbelievably lenient handicap mark being exploited by connections of Postman will have been generously rewarded by the horse's resounding success at Nottingham on Tuesday evening at odds of 11/4, after 9/2 had been widely available in the morning.
Even better news followed two days later when Munster landed our ante-post wager for the Magners League (advised last September at 5/1).
There could be a quicker return from Postman at Newcastle tomorrow where a 6lb-penalty will ensure top weight of 9-8 in the 5.15. It doesn't look any harder than his two wins over the past 10 days so here's hoping for another first-class delivery.
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CLEAR SIGNAL
YOU know summer has arrived when the new season starts at Hamilton and the Chester Cup is on the horizon so, with the first selection required for the Tipsters' Challenge on the Scottish Racing website today and with jumping fresh in the mind after a wonderful Punchestown Festival, I've gone for Denis O'Regan on Ergo in the Jump Jockeys' race at 3.00.
I'm also hoping that Signalman is fresh and fit enough to take advantage of a good looking mark in the 4.10.
I am more than hopeful that Barry Hills will have Daraahem spot on to land Wednesday's Chester Cup after disappointing in last year's Cesarewitch. Gelded and unraced since then, he acts around these turns and has Downhiller to beat.
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