REAMS and reams have been written about the gallant ten-year-old Persian Punch.

David Elsworth's veteran stayer is a standing dish when competing in the likes of the Doncaster Cup, a two-mile-two-furlong war of attrition admirably suited to his style of running.

Persian Punch prefers to be at the head of affairs, a position he defends by slugging it out stride for stride with any opponent daring to challenge his supremacy in such lung-bursting marathons.

His battling qualities were never seen to better effect than when passed by Jardines Lookout with two furlongs to travel in this year's Goodwood Cup. In typically brave fashion, Persian Punch rallied as if his very life depended on winning, regaining the upper hand within the shadow of the post for yet another famous victory.

"I've run out of superlatives for this horse," reported his owner Jeff Smith, for whom Persian Perch has picked up the neck-end of a staggering £1m in prize money during his long and distinguished career.

Barry Hills has a marvellous record on the Town Moor, hence it would probably be folly to oppose the thus far unbeaten Tantina (4.00) in the Listed Sceptre Stakes for Fillies & Mares.

A classically late-maturing type, Tantina didn't race at all as a two-year-old, which is often a blessing in disguise since it allows an extended period for muscular and bone structure development.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and after three straight wins at Haydock, Yarmouth, and Goodwood, it's going to take a mighty good performance by one of her rivals to stop the selection making it four-in-row.

In the opening Betdaq May Hill Stakes, Kinnaird (1.45) shapes as if she can make the necessary improvement to claim Group 2 glory.

Patrick Haslam's filly changed gear not once, but twice, when producing a fantastic turn of foot to collect over seven furlongs at Ascot in the Shergar Cup meeting.

I really do believe Kinnaird could be 1,000 Guineas material in 2004 and this is an ideal opportunity for the Middleham raider to blitz a field from some essentially far more fashionable southern stables.

Geraldine Rees has not enjoyed the best of seasons, however there could be some light at the end of the tunnel if Proud Boast (4.30) can out-speed her rivals in the Listed five-furlong Scas.

She knocked on the door the last twice, notably at Haydock last Saturday, where she chased the bang in-form sprinter, Seel Of Approval.

* There's simply no stopping our bookie-bashing tipster Janus (Colin Woods), who landed yet another corking winning nap at Doncaster yesterday, 9-1 shot Marinas Charm.

*Halmahera gave racing a welcome good story yesterday as he became only the fourth horse in history to land back-to-back runnings of the Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

Against a backdrop of protests and discord, racing was the real winner as the veteran gelding burst clear under the ever-popular Frankie Dettori to steal the headlines on the opening day of the Seabiscuit St Leger meeting.

The Kevin Ryan-trained 11-1 chance raced on the stands' side of the track as the 22-strong field split into two groups.

It was to prove the right decision as Halmahera's group clearly held sway and the 11-1 winner beat pacesetter Corridor Creeper (12-1) by half a length.

Baltic King (12-1), drawn eight but switched across the track, was a further one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third, with 50-1 chance Quito doing best of those on the opposite side of the course in fourth.

Halmahera's two victories here are the only two that he has achieved for over four years and in over 40 starts, but he has run in the frame in a host of top handicaps and more than earned his keep.

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