DEPENDABLE Dandoun (3.05) is guaranteed to dig deep when push comes to shove in this afternoon's richest race, the £100,000 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

You won't see many more handsome colts than Dandoun, a stunning dark bay who generally swanks around the parade ring as if he owns the place. Such arrogance is often misplaced, but not in this case since the five-year-old is a top-notch miler blessed with the heart of lion.

John Dunlop's star demonstrated his class by destroying a decent field at Doncaster's opening Flat meeting of the year, prior to an even better performance when picking up the Group 2 Prix Du Maget at Saint Cloud in May.

A debilitating virus then plunged Dunlop's horses into a disastrous trough of indifference, which was probably the reason for Dandoun's poor run when he returned to France later on that month.

Refreshed by a 97-day break, plus buoyed by the return to form of Dunlop's stable, Dandoun looks poised to take the scalp of some notable rivals, including the 2002 winner, Tillerman.

Beverley has rustled up an excellent £40,000 in total prize money for their principal event, the mile-and-a-quarter Showcase Handicap.

Normally the tip would be have been our old buddy, Nuit Sombre, who has already done this column a couple of cracking turns this term. Sadly he seems to have gone off the boil and as an alternative I'm turning to the thus far lightly-raced Leighton (3.30).

James Bethell has been very patient with this fellow, avoiding the likes of York, perhaps waiting the opportunity to go pot-hunting away from some of the so-called glamour venues. It's a policy I believe will be rewarded having viewed and been summarily impressed with a video of Leighton's latest outing at Ripon, where with the benefit of a clear run he might not have had to settle for third place. Having recently posted his 50th juvenile scorer of the current campaign it would be fair to say Richard Hannon has an embarrassment of riches in the two-year-old department.

Given Hannon has such a wealth of talent at his disposal it is also logical to assume the cunning East Everleigh handler regards Newmarket-bound Bentley's Ball (3.40) as being well in at the weights for the UAE Racing Federation Nursery. Insiders at the yard certainly sensed they were on a good thing because after a near two-month absence from action Bentley's Ball was backed off the boards when scooting home in a similar race over track and trip this month.

Another gamble landed involved Leporello (6.45), who took the bookies to the cleaners when justifying short-priced favouritism in a competitive handicap at Haydock last time out.

Trainer Peter Harris immediately announced his intention to move up into better company and, true to his word, the fast-improving three-year-old now tries his hand in the Stan James-sponsored Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. Leporello should have won more easily than he did at Haydock - jockey Richard Quinn nearly made a mess of things on that occasion by leaving his mount with too much ground to make up in the closing stages.

Provided no such mishaps occur this evening, the combination can continue on their steep upward curve.

Spring-heeled Tender Touch (4.30) will be in her element at Cartmel, where the sharp, left-handed track is absolutely tailor-made for the eight-year-old mare.

Kate Milligan's consistent grey hardly ever runs a bad race these days and if the Middleham raider manages to stay off the deck, more success beckons in the EBF Novices' Handicap Chase

* In-form Echo tipster, JANUS (Colin Woods), boosted his month of August profits up to £20.28 to a £1 level stake when 3-1 winning nap selection, Mary Jane, hit the target at Thirsk yesterday.

Also on the mark at the meeting was the 10-1 scorer, Blue Sky Thinking, included in his exclusive Racing North ten-to-follow list.

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