PORT Vila, who has progressed with every outing to date, can notch the biggest win of his career by lifting the Sodexho Prestige Scottish Classic over a mile and a quarter at Ayr this afternoon.

Unbeaten in his first two outings as a juvenile, John Gosden's son of Barathea lost nothing in defeat when fourth to Distant Music in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October.

And after a pleasing reappearance behind Shamrock City at the same course in June, the colt returned to winning ways when scoring over this trip at Ascot last time, where the front-running Merry Merlin finished over four lengths in arrears.

The likely strong pace here will be very much in his favour and it'll be a surprise if he can't find further improvement for his in-form stable. He is preferred to Sir Michael Stoute's Beat All, who would probably prefer a bit further.

With five confirmed front-runners in the Tote Credit Club Showcase Handicap over five furlongs the pace is likely to be a furious one and this should suit Sir Sandrovitch down to the ground.

Richard Fahey's came good in some style over this course and distance last month when beating Tick Tock by two and a half lengths but he reportedly injured himself when below that level at Musselburgh two days later.

After a month on the sidelines, the gelding was far from disgraced from a modest draw at Catterick last time and he should be spot on here. George Duffield looks a significant booking and the combination are preferred to Legs Be Friendly.

Welcome To Unos is gradually finding his form this year and his latest effort behind Maron and subsequent winner Distinctly Blu, at Catterick last time, marks him down as one to be interested in for the Rock Steady 20th Anniversary Handicap over seven furlongs.

Drawn widest of all that day, Michael Dods' gelding stuck on stoutly in the closing stages and should be very well suited by the step up to this trip. He handles fast ground really well and should go close in a modest race.

Mark Johnston's Amen Corner shouldn't be too hard pressed to win the opening seven-furlong maiden and Barry Hills, who has a good record here, can be on the mark with hat-trick seeking Tortuguero in the nursery over the same trip.

At Windsor's evening fixture the best bet of the meeting could be Mark Usher's Shady Deal, an in-form sprinter, in the Cadogan Charity Handicap over six furlongs.

Following two good runs at Bath (from a poor draw) and at Beverley, my selection finally opened his account at the first named course last week when beating 18 others.

As that was an apprentice race, Shady Deal goes unpenalised here and he looks to be well drawn in stall 11. George Baker, the promising apprentice, is riding with bags of confidence at present and renews his association with the gelding.

Sir Michael Stoute's Shapour, who was disappointing on his reappearance at Bath in early May, has been given plenty of time and is the fancy in the Ladbrokes Handicap over an extended mile and three furlongs.

The well-bred son of Saddler's Wells ran his best race to date over lm last October when second to Imperial Rocket at Leicester.

A mark of 76 doesn't look over-punishing for his handicap debut and he should come into his own now he steps up to this distance. He is sure to further and can account for Second Paige.