A CROCK of gold occasionally awaits the small-time stakes player prepared to bet at double digit odds, so with this in mind an each-way wager on Carte Diamond (2.30) is advised for this afternoon's £200,000 totesport Ebor.

Brian Ellison's flashy chestnut was purchased out of Mark Johnston's yard for around £100,000 towards the end of last season, immediately prior to landing Doncaster's November Handicap under Kieren Fallon.

That event was a nice little bonus for Carte Diamond, who was specifically bought in mind of winning Cheltenham Festival's Triumph Hurdle in March.

Ultimately Carte Diamond failed in that ambitious objective when spoiling his chance by boiling over at the start, however, in the event of disappointment connections always had plan B in mind.

"Kieren said he could be listed class, and the idea was always to give him a break after Cheltenham and bring him back fresh for the Ebor," revealed Tyneside-born Ellison.

Of course fitness is going to be a key issue following a 152-day break from action, but the selection has a good first time out record and more of a worry might be his tendency to get upset at the start.

Carte Diamond can get very sweaty in the preliminaries, therefore if he looks really fired up before entering the stalls our fate might already be sealed by virtue of prematurely tapping vital energy reserves. Conversely, should the selection enter the gates like the proverbial lamb, then both the column and the Yorkshire crowd might just be in for a famous home win courtesy of the Malton-trained raider.

In terms of sheer prestige the Group 1 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks is the feature race on the card, especially as there's such a strong Irish and French challenge in the £250,000 contest.

As far as the official ratings are concerned, Epsom Oaks heroine, Eswarah, is top of the tree.

She subsequently flopped in the admittedly tougher King George, a disturbing defeat that persuades me to give her a swerve and side with Punctillious (3.05).

The very knowledge that the all-conquering Godolphin team have now slipped smoothly into overdrive is a compelling reason to support Kerrin McEvoy's mount, who meted out a two-length fast-time drubbing to her rivals on recent visit to Newbury.

In the absence of the injured Robert Winston, Royston Ffrench steps up for the ride on Pacific Pride (1.55) in the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.

The six-furlong Group 2 dash has always been the natural target for the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned youngster, who beat all bar Red Clubs when a Royal Ascot at York runner-up in June.

From now on Ffrench will be partnering all of the big-name Howard Johnson-trained two-year-olds, a fabulous opportunity he'll be keen not spurn.

On all known figures Pacific Pride is up to the job, and Ffrench has shown in the past he's not fazed when it comes to operating on the premier stage.

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