KIEREN FALLON'S booking for the North Yorkshire-trained three-year-old Flipando (2.10) could prove to be highly significant at Ascot today.

David Barron doesn't often call upon the services of the reigning champion jockey, but, when Kieren does get the nod for one of Barron's horses, the opposition normally need to be on their guard.

On the balance of last season's evidence when Flipando won a hot Newcastle maiden in facile fashion, there is already a compelling case for backing Barron's ace, which combined with Fallon's presence in the saddle might well add up to success in the opening Sodexho Handicap.

In the later one-mile Bovis Handicap, Climate (5.30) can take advantage of his mouth-watering handicap mark in the £8,000 race.

Climate drew a blank last term and as result has dropped sufficiently in the ratings to tempt punters back in for another crack. There was certainly plenty of promise to be gleaned from his latest run at Windsor where he finished fourth behind a trio of useful milers.

For the feature event on the card, the Bovis Homes Sagaro Stakes, Mark Johnston sends three of his top stayers from Middleham to contest the Group 3 two-mile event.

The dual Gold Cup winner, Royal Rebel, is almost certain to need the outing having the missed whole of 2003 due to injury. With Royal Rebel potentially out of the picture for the time being at least, that leaves the much-improved Darasim, plus ten-to-follow pick Shanty Star (2.40).

At this early stage of the year it is very hard to choose between the two and my advice, having watched them at first hand on the gallops during the past couple of days, is to have a small each-way bet on both Shanty Star and Darasim.

Johnston might also be in the money at Pontefract where Beacon Star (2.20) enters calculations in the Thorne Maiden Stakes.

Twelve months ago he won the same race with Russian Valour, who went on to score at Royal Ascot in the Norfolk Stakes. Beacon Star, a handsome chestnut with a big white blaze across his head, is probably not in that class, none the less with the stable's juveniles going quite well, he clearly warrants respect.

Len Lungo, who knocked in a magnificent three-timer at Wetherby on Sunday, should once again be in among the winners, this time at Kelso with Ebinzayd (6.45) in the Royal Bank of Scotland Handicap Hurdle.

Despite shouldering top-weight, Ebinzayd slammed his 11 rivals at Carlisle ten days ago and there appears to be no earthly reason to oppose him at the Borders' venue this evening.

l Ringmoor Down romped to a silky-smooth success at Bath yesterday landing an 11-2 winning nap selection for Janus (Colin Woods).

l Today's meeting at Pontefract hinges on a 7am inspection following heavy rain and officials at Redcar will hold an inspection at 1pm to assess prospects for racing tomorrow.

Redcar's clerk of the course John Gundill said: ''The ground is heavy, waterlogged in places. It's still raining now and the forecast is for further showery outbreaks.''

l One Cool Cat has been cut to 2-1 favourite for Saturday's UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas by Coral.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was a top-priced 9-4 with the firm but they now go the same price as William Hill and Ladbrokes.

Fellow Irish challenger Azamour has also come in for support and is now 25-1 from 33s.

The colt's trainer John Oxx has been encouraged by the good to firm going reports from Newmarket.

''We are happy enough with him at the moment and if he continues to be in good form for the next few days he will travel,'' he said.

''We are watching the weather forecast and ground reports very carefully. We would not run if it was going to be soft, but it would be very unusual for it to be soft at Newmarket. Subject to that, he is all ready to go.''

Three Valleys, the mount of Kieren Fallon, has been nibbled at with Ladbrokes, who go 16-1 from 20s.

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