TITUS ALONE (2.30) takes the eye to strike an early blow for the North on the final day of Royal Ascot at York.

The Bryan Smart-trained speedball wrecked a few budding reputations when putting his rivals to the sword with a six-length demolition at Redcar in May.

Smart didn't need a second invitation to target his two-year-old at the Royal meeting, opting for this afternoon's opening Windsor Castle Stakes, traditionally one of the softer juvenile races at the five-day festival.

"This year's youngsters are the nicest bunch I've ever had, it means more pressure but that's no bad thing," explained Smart, whose only other runner at the Knavesmire this week, Sir Xaar, finished an honourable fourth in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes.

At the other end of the six-race card, Royal Rebel (5.30) bids to end his long and illustrious career in glorious fashion by winning the closing Queen Alexandra Stakes.

The dual Gold Cup winning hero, owned by former BHB chairman, Peter Savill, the veteran nine-year-old is nearing the end of the road. "He ran well on his seasonal comeback in the Henry II at Sandown and the plan has always been to retire Royal Rebel after today," said trainer Mark Johnston.

At two-miles-and-three-quarters, the Queen Alexandra is the longest event on the British Racing Calendar, which undoubtedly suits the stamina-laden selection down to a tee.

In the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, the Johnston team bid to maintain their excellent record in the race with Bandari,

The stable have won the 12-furlong feature three times in the past, twice with Fruits Of Love, plus Zindabad, another of Johnston's all-time favourite middle-distance runners.

On his day Bandari is every bit as good as that duo, and although the cards haven't fallen kindly for him so far this term, his recent flop at Epsom can be blamed entirely on an inherent dislike of that unique switchback venue.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's previous course and distance winner is far happier at York, moreover the game and consistent six-year-old, equipped with his customary earplugs, is sure to relish the prevailing lightning fast underfoot conditions.

In the shape of Flamboyant Lad (4.55), Hamdan's brother, Maktoum Al Maktoum, has one of the leading contenders for the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.

Flamboyant Lad, an impeccably-bred son of the mighty Nashwan, out of a Nureyev mare, is already verging on listed class judged by his recent Newbury romp when toying with a useful line-up, prior to leaving them for dead inside the last quarter mile.

Quito (3.45) has all-along been the tip for the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes, but even though grey skies have dominated the area during the past five days, insufficient rain has somewhat blunted his prospects.

In an ideal world David Chapman's eight-year-old needs a little bit of juice in the turf to be at his very best, nonetheless only a buffoon would rubbish Quito's chances.

At the peak of his game when swooping late off a cut-throat early pace, the tough-as-teak gelding demonstrated he has the class to keep tabs with some of the UK's top sprinters by readily disposing of Ashdown Express at Newmarket's Craven fixture in May.

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