SIR MICHAEL STOUTE needs to scoop York's hugely valuable Juddmonte International Stakes with Maraahel (3.05) in order to challenge Aidan O'Brien for the 2005 Flat trainer's championship.

The latter is currently £190,000 ahead of Stoute at the top of the table, however, with over £250,000 available to the winner of the Group 1 showpiece the outcome of the mile-and-a-quarter contest is absolutely crucial to both protagonists.

O'Brien is represented by the consistent four-year-old, Ace, who, like Maraahel, has been chalked up at odds of 9-2 by the majority of the leading layers in what has been a pretty lively ante-post market.

If Ace does prevail it will be another nail in the coffin as far as Stoute's title hopes go, but I believe Maraahel, who ran really well in defeat when runner-up to Bandari at the Royal Ascot meeting, holds superior claims to the Irish raider.

The massive prize on offer has also attracted two high-quality foreigners, the Italian colt, Electrocutionist, plus from the land of the rising sun, Japan Cup hero, Zenno Rob Roy.

The classy pair dispute favouritism following a series of superb efforts in their respective countries and although neither can be discounted, it's always hard to assess the potential negative effect of having to acclimatise to British conditions.

"We're expecting 35 to 40 press from Japan and have provided a special facility for them to make sure they have enough space. Zenno Rob Roy is a superstar out there and has a huge following," explained Clerk of the Course, William Derby.

The Geezer (2.30) is the clear pick on form for the Great Voltigeur Stakes, the last recognised trial for next month's St Leger.

Carrying the colours of the late-lamented Persian Punch, Jeff Smith's colt showed his class by making mincemeat of some useful rivals in Glorious Goodwood's Group 3 Gordon Stakes late last month.

Not for the first time Ladbrokes have virtually licensed themselves to print money by sponsoring the immensely competitive 18-runner Knavesmire Handicap, the mile-and-a-half curtain raiser to the fabulous three-day festival.

Last year's winner, Sualda, is not without a chance of doing the double, but even so a better bet might be Bay Story (1.20). Despite the fact that Mark Johnston's horse was sunk without trace last time out, he had a valid excuse on that occasion due to the rain-softened surface.

Previously Bay Story responded to the fitting of headgear at Newbury with an extremely authoritative victory, for which a 7lbs rise in the weights might not be sufficient to stop him regaining the winning habit.

Kieren Fallon's booking for High Curragh (4.10) in the Irwin Mitchell Nursery is a hint not to be missed.

High Curragh demonstrated versatility by opening his account in gutsy fashion over six furlongs at Ayr, a success which he followed up by switching back to the minimum trip and once again doing the business on a visit to Thirsk.

Kevin Ryan's two-year-old clocked a very fast time at the last-named track, a speed figure that was all the more meritorious seeing as his long-term future surely lies over this afternoon's longer trip.

At the other end of the distance scale, Songlark (1.55) has excellent prospects of continuing Godolphin's recent resurgence by picking off the opposition in the two-mile Lonsdale Cup.

The son of Singspiel possesses plenty of pace for a stayer, ideal in an event where one or two of the principals are overtly lacking in the finishing speed department.

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