MARK JOHNSTON bids to maintain his excellent record in the Goodwood Cup by supplying one third of the nine-runner line-up with Darasim, Royal Rebel and Double Obsession all declared for the £100,000 Group 2 showpiece.

Johnston has won the prestigious two-miler four times in the last nine years, Double Trigger most famously landing the silverware in 1995, 1997 and 1998, together with Royal Rebel's millennium triumph.

Remarkably, the hardy old warrior Royal Rebel is still strutting his stuff and cannot be discounted, especially as he's been refitted with a visor. However, strictly on form, Peter Savill's game veteran is well held by the likely favourite and my selection for the race, Darasim ((3.15).

The pair clashed in the Ascot Gold Cup, a race in which third-placed Darasim had his stable-mate five lengths back in fourth spot. Darasim also showed his liking for the track when scoring over a mile-and-six-furlongs at the meeting 12 months ago, a victory in which his jockey, Joe Fanning, was at his brilliant best.

Although Double Obsession has never won at anything like this level, his participation from a sentimental point of view is not surprising since he's part-owned by Ron Huggins, the man responsible in the first place for sending Double Trigger to be trained at Middleham. Sentimentality apart, it would be unwise to totally write off Double Obsession, an enigmatic yet highly able racehorse who defied odds of 25-1 to pick up the Ascot Stakes in June, in fact he's just the sort to pull a big win out of the fire when least expected.

For the other long-distance event of the day, the 14-furlong Valdoe Rated Stakes, team Johnston might once again be in pole position to grab the spoils with Royal Rebel's half-brother, Yoshka (5.35).

At first glance the Official Handicapper doesn't appear to have taken any chances with Yoshka by allotting him a heady rating of 87. It does seem a trifle harsh, seeing as the three-year-old's 2004 wins have come in lesser contests at Ripon and Catterick, nevertheless he's a typically progressive Kingsley House type who, even more importantly, lacks nothing in the guts department.

When fillies like Peeress (2.05) start to improve at this time of year there's no knowing when the upward curve is going to plateau.

Sir Michael Stoute started Peeress (2.05) off with a couple of penalty kicks at Bath and Thirsk, but there was no mistaking the quality of the opposition when completing her hat-trick at Newmarket just over three weeks ago.

The seven-furlong De Boer Classified Stakes has produced a mouthwatering head-to-head confrontation between Mister Monet's Newmarket conqueror Kehaar and Bunbury Cup hero Material Witness.

It's a very difficult call, but considering Kehaar (5.00) clearly has the potential to step up to Group company, he'll be the one to carry my money.

Michael Dods' fabulous summer of success continued apace at Musselburgh yesterday when 9-1 shot Son Of Thunder made short work of his rivals.

The in-form Denton handler heads to Carlisle today, where Mr Bountiful (2.50) is worthy of each-way support in the six-furlong Neil Wyatt Claiming Stakes. The emphasis is very much on an each-way wager because according to the BHB ratings chief rival Hurricane Floyd has plenty in hand over Mr Bountiful.

However, it must be noted that Hurricane Floyd has reportedly suffered from a breathing problem in days gone by, a physical failing which could conceivably reoccur at any time.

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