THIS season's top filly, Russian Rhythm (3.05), is impossible to oppose in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes on the final day of Glorious Goodwood, even though she is unproven over a mile-and-a-quarter.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge opened her campaign with a silky-smooth success in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and was no less impressive when going on to conquer all-comers in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Earlier in the week there were doubts about Russian Rhythm's participation due to soft ground, but conditions have now dried sufficiently for her to line-up in the £200,000 affair.

Having only raced at distances of up to one mile so far, don't expect Kieren Fallon to be on the premises early doors. However, when he is due to deliver the killer punch, fireworks can be expected since the classy three-year-old possesses a formula-one type turn of foot.

Sir Michael and Kieren might also be in business with Laidlow (2.30) in the preceding Listed Vodafone Thoroughbred Stakes.

Although the Mt Livermore colt only just scraped home on his debut at Newmarket in May, he stepped up markedly on that effort when a close fourth to Trade Fair over the same track and trip later on that month.

Devotees of two-year-old racing are in for a treat at Thirsk, where the five-furlong Balderby Park Nursery has attracted some very progressive juveniles.

Cape Trafalgar and George The Best have both won their last two starts and appear sure to be in the firing line, but preference is for Shank On Fourteen (2.50).

Owned in partnership by the leading European Tour golfers Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, Shank On Fourteen is proven over track and trip as well as having the advantage of being ridden by leading claimer Luke Fletcher, taking an invaluable 3lb off the selection's back.

For a sporting nap selection I'm recommending a Darren Gough-style swipe over long off on Statoyork (3.25) in the Whitby Selling Handicap.

Derek Shaw's sprinter would have picked this lot up and carried them a couple of years ago. His demise into a seller is sad to witness, but it does at least make him a decent betting proposition at a potentially lucrative starting price.

Gay Kelleway's stable is enjoying a purple patch at present, boding promisingly for the prospects of Labrett (4.00) in the one-mile Racecard Competition Handicap.

Labrett is one of those funny customers seemingly in need of having to be buried behind a wall of horses prior to pouncing inside the final furlong. Things don't always fall into place as anticipated, but if Lee Enstone can hang on to the last possible minute before making his challenge, victory could well be within their reach.

The action begins at Newmarket with a corking seven-furlong handicap in which Icannshift (1.55) makes plenty of appeal.

The official handicapper has dropped the Peter Harris-trained three-year-old 16lb since the start of the year as Icannshift had been running diabolically before shaping a little better over today's trip at Sandown last time out.

Leaving the closing mile-and-a-half Royal British Legion Handicap to the ultra-consistent Mexican Pete (5.20), who is fancied to maintain her recent improvement now that she is stepped up a further two furlongs in trip.

Fresh from breaking the bank in the £100,000 William Hill Trophy with Golden Bear at Goodwood yesterday, Richard Fahey and his stable jockey Paul Hanagan can get the cash tills ringing once again at Doncaster via Neckar Valley (3.30).

Neckar Valley was a desperately unlucky loser at Hamilton last time out and if there is any justice he'll gain deserved compensation in the £30,000 Weatherbys Summer Cup.

Summer jumping continues in earnest at Worcester, and while there is money to be gathered in over the sticks be sure Sue Smith will not be far from the fray.

Sue despatches previous track-and-trip winner Cill Churnain (3.50) down from Bingley in the hope of plundering the most valuable race on the card, the £10,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

Cill Churnian bolted up by 12 lengths over fences at Uttoxeter last month, however he's just as effective over the smaller obstacles and is strongly fancied to follow up.

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