Horse Racing: Fortune is Favoured

Jockey Jimmy Fortune's strong book of rides at Royal Ascot next week is likely to include Sergeant Cecil in the Gold Cup on Thursday. Fortune won the Yorkshire Cup on Rod Millman's popular stayer last month. Frankie Dettori, who partnered Sergeant Cecil to victory in last year's Prix du Cadran, was in line for the ride again but is expected to be claimed for Godolphin's Cherry Mix next week. "I'm told Cherry Mix runs, so Jimmy [Fortune] will ride Sergeant Cecil," said Dettori's agent, Ray Cochrane, last night.

Cherry Mix was one of 16 declared runners yesterday in a race dominated by last year's winner Yeats, who is Coral's 4-6 favorite. Sergeant Cecil, fifth behind Aidan O'Brien's horse 12 months ago, is a 5-1 shot. O'Brien is 1-2 with Hill's to be the leading trainer at Royal Ascot for the second time. He last took the title in 2001. The ground at Ascot remains good to firm, despite 10 millimeters of rainfall at the Berkshire track on Thursday night. But York had no choice but to abandon both yesterday's and today's cards after a deluge left the Knavesmire waterlogged.

Ron Cox's tip of the day


Snowed Under 8.15 Leicester

Whatever it is about Leicester, the Midlands course brings out the best in Snowed Under. His victory in this race a year ago was his fourth over the course and distance and he is handicapped to go close again, racing off the same mark as when successful 12 months ago. Richard Quinn, the winning jockey that day, is on board again and Snowed Under shaped well when third here last month.