Having already bagged both the Northumberland Plate and Ebor, two of the richest handicaps in Europe, Sergeant Cecil (3.35) now bids to add the £100,000 Doncaster Cup to his impressive 2005 haul.

Trainer Rod Millman's handling of the six-year-old this term has been nearly faultless, so he must think his gelding well capable of making the significant step up in class to Group 2 company.

Sergeant Cecil probably has most to fear from Millenary, who has been a magnificent servant to John Dunlop down the years, racking up numerous high-profile wins, including when dead-heating in this race 12 months ago. However, Millenary is prone to throwing in the odd stinker, therefore he's well worth taking on at short odds with such a prestigious prize at stake.

Sir Mark Prescott's superb 23 per cent strike rate is due in no small part to Confidential Lady (2.45), beaten only once in four starts.

Her sole defeat came at the hands of Nasheej, who she now re-opposes on 3lbs better terms for a head reverse in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes. Since that run Confidential Lady has bounced back to pick up a valuable contest in France, putting her bang in the picture for the much sought-after May Hill Stakes.

In the following GNER Park Stakes, John Gosden's Sleeping Indian (3.20) will be on most punters' shortlist.

Sleeping Indian easily brushed aside the likes of Attraction and co in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes, a performance which cemented his reputation as one of the leading seven-furlong campaigners currently in training.

Mark Johnston has a good record with his runners at the St Leger Festival, boding nicely for the prospects of Nihal in the opener.

Nihal justified 11-4 favouritism with an authoritative success at York last month, a victory that prompted dreams of even greater glory next year.

"We've always thought she'd make a lovely three-year-old," declared Mark's wife Deirdre, whose remarks clearly indicate they believe there is plenty of improvement left in the daughter of former Japan Cup Hero, Singspiel.

Even though he filled seventh spot at Chester last time out, King Harson (5.05) actually ran far better than his final placing suggested.

The James Bethell-trained powerhouse had to contend with a dreadful outside draw on that occasion, as a result of which he used far too much petrol to blast out of the stalls to adopt his customary pace-setting role.

With no such problems on today's straight course, the Middleham raider could prove to be a totally different proposition for the closing Ralf Raper Memorial Prince of Wales Cup.

* Attraction will go for the Grade One Atto Mile in Canada on Sunday week should the ground at Leopardstown on Saturday prove her undoing. Last year's dual Guineas heroine is entered for the Matron Stakes but trainer Mark Johnston said any rain at the Irish venue could scupper their chances and is eyeing the Atto Mile at Woodbine as an alternative.