PROVIDED positive tactics are adopted on Inigo Jones (3.10) for today's £175,000 Tote Ebor, he is fully capable of causing a major upset in the richest handicap ever run at York.

Sadly for backers of the Peter Harris-trained four-year-old that was not the case in Newcastle's Northumberland Plate where Inigo Jones spent much of the contest languishing amongst the back markers.

When he was asked to make an effort in the home straight the gaps simply didn't appear until all too late by which time the leaders had flown.

French ace Olivier Peslier takes over from Tony Culhane this afternoon and I am sure he will take the view that it is much better to be near the front rather than in rear right from the outset of a contest notorious for its level of pillar-to-post scrimmaging.

The dangers to the selection are manifest, not least red hot-favourite Boreas, representing Luca Cumani's in-form yard, also responsible for 1999 winner Vicious Circle.

However at the cramped odds of around 4-1 he doesn't offer any sort of value compared with the 20-1 available for Indigo Jones in such a competitive affair.

The preceding £220,000 Yorkshire Oaks has attracted a quality field commensurate to the high standing of the race.

Ramruma and Love Divine, respective winners of the 1999 and Millennium Epsom Oaks take their chance, as does the Irish Oaks heroine Petrushka (2.35).

It is the latter, the Michael Stoute-trained filly who takes my eye, with her superior turn of foot taken to land the spoils.

Yorkshire-trained Media Mogul (3.45) can confirm his status as one of the season's leading juveniles in the Group 2 Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.

David Barron's speedy two-year-old went down by a short-head to David Loder's Nouverre in a Group 3 at Newmarket - stand out form since the latter has subsequently prevailed in a brace of top-class events.

Easy ground may hamper the ultra-consistent Bouncing Bowdler in the Costcutter Roses Stakes, although he still seems certain to make his presence felt.

In the circumstances I just prefer Joplin (4.15), hand-picked by Aiden O'Brien from his hugely powerful team of youngsters.

Travesty Of Love (5.15) appears to be approaching concert pitch in preparation for the closing Falmouth Handicap.

The only horse to finish in front of Brian Meehan's raider at the Glorious Goodwood was Smokin Beau, who incidentally followed up in style at Newbury.

Behind that pair was a useful field of three-year-old sprinters suggesting the Case Law gelding could be one to follow in anticipation of a fruitful autumn campaign.

Carlisle-bound Rymer's Rascal (4.05) is long overdue a win, while few punters will want to oppose Dakota Sue (4.35), strongly fancied to complete a quick-fire hat-trick following her latest battling victory at Haydock.

lPat Eddery's dream of regaining the jockeys' title remains alive after a lucky escape at York yesterday.

The 11-time champion narrowly avoided a long whip suspension after riding a storming finish on Kalanisi, who was just beaten by Giant's Causeway in the Juddmonte International.

He was referred to Portman Square and stood down for 10 days after breaching the whip rules on the same horse in last month's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

And a season-wrecking repeat looked on the cards when he was called before the stewards to explain his use of the stick, having hit his mount 12 times in the last furlong and a half.

l Ante-post favourite Savoire Vivre is among the 21 horses who have stood their ground for the £350,000 Rothmans Royals St Leger following yesterday forfeit stage.

The John Gosden-trained colt, made the 7-2 favourite with Coral