FRANKIE DETTORI'S decision to desert Grandera in favour of Moon Ballad may prove very costly for the Italian in the day's feature at Royal Ascot, the £345,000 Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Twelve months ago Dettori romped home unchallenged aboard Grandera (3.45) in the Group 1 contest, but he has since partnered Moon Ballad to a runaway victory in the Dubai World Cup, a brilliant performance that ultimately swayed him in favour of the latter.

Few jockeys have the luxury of a choice between two such super-stars and Dettori has warned punters "not to ignore the prospects of Grandera", simply because unfortunately even his undoubted genius does not stretch to riding both of Godolphins' horses in the same race!

The lucky man to get the leg up on Grandera is Jamie Spencer, the mercurial Irish jockey who six years ago became the youngest jockey to ride a Classic winner at the tender age of 17.

Spencer will not be in any particular hurry to make his move, however when he does ask his mount to quicken once the winning post is in sight, spectators can expect an explosive burst of pace from Grandera, a former winner of the Irish Champion Stakes and Singapore Cup.

Sir Michael Stoute and Mark Johnston occupy first and second places in the trainers' championship and it would be a huge shock if either came away from the remaining five races empty-handed. Kieren Fallon has been entrusted with booting home all of Stoute's runners beginning with Arakan (2.30) in the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs.

Arakan has been successfully campaigned in handicap company so far this term, although in truth he has always shaped much more like a Pattern class colt.

Later on Sir Michael relies on Funfair (4.20) in the Royal Hunt Cup, although his poor high draw does somewhat temper confidence.

Fallon did not even have to resort to using his stick when Funfair sauntered to a highly impressive triumph in a massively competitive 0-105 handicap at York last time out and considering the tenderness with which Funfair was handled presumably there is much more to come.

Johnston's hand is arguably even stronger judged by the presence of Attraction (3.05), Knavesmire Omen and Mana d'Argent (4.55), plus Pearl Of Love (5.30).

Mark's comments (see insert) have been extremely positive for all four, Attraction getting a glowing reference for her bid to win the five furlong Group 3 Queen Mary Stakes.

Her regular work rider, Alan Mercer, a former jockey to Bill Watts, was also full of praise for Attraction. "I've seen nothing to beat her yet and she's improving with every run," he said.

Physically Pearl Of Love is a really striking individual and his attack on the Chesham Stakes can only be helped by the fact he is stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.

Choosing between the in-form stayers Mana d'Argent (4.55) and Knavesmire Omen for the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Stakes is near impossible, therefore the only sensible option for die-hard Johnston fans is to have a small each-way investment on both.

Away from the hype of the Royal meeting, Bolam-near-Darlington-based David Thompson has his first runner as a fully-fledged trainer with Sovereign State (8.45) in the two-mile Claiming Hurdle at Worcester.

David learnt his trade from the former Grand National winning handler Denys Smith, for whom he rode 20 winners over hurdles, as well as being his Head Lad for the five years prior to Denys's recent retirement.

"It's always been my ambition to train. I've got eight horses in and it would be nice to kick off with a winner. Sovereign State is flying and weighted to win the race," said Thompson.