SECOND-STRINGS sometimes upset their more strongly fancied stable-mates, so it might be unwise to write off Light Shift (4.05) in this afternoon's Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.

Using the ante-post betting as a strict guide, Henry Cecil's red-hot market leader, Passage Of Time, occupies pole position to bag first place in the mile-and-a-half Fillies' Classic.

But Cecil is throwing two darts at the board in the hope of winning the Group 1 feature for an historic eighth time, and, to my way of thinking, Light Shift could be the better of the pair.

Passage of Time only just scraped home in her prep, York's Musidora Stakes, while Light Shift powered away with the Cheshire Oaks having extricated herself from big trouble in the back straight.

Whatever your view, Passage Of Time is skinny at around 7-4, while Light Shift remains available to back at an arguably more sensible each-way price of 5-1.

The Coronation Stakes is the contest of the season to date, principally because it numbers both the 2006 Derby and St Leger winners, Sir Percy and Sixties Icon, in the seven-runner line-up.

Add into the mix Aidan O'Brien's high-class duo, Scorpion and Septimus, not to mention Sir Michael Stoute's Royal Ascot Hardwicke Stakes hero, Maraahel, and there's a race to savour.

To an extent Sir Percy has let the Derby form down by twice being beaten since, a factor which sways me towards Sixties Icon (3.25), mightily impressive at Newmarket last time out.

If Joe Fanning can get the fractions right, Annemasse (4.50) is going to take some pegging back in the Listed Surrey Stakes.

Emerging from the highly advantageous stall one, Fanning is almost certain to send Mark Johnston's three-year-old straight into the lead and utilise catch-me-if-you-can tactics.

Epsom has long been recognized as a front-runners paradise, therefore it'll be no surprise if Annemasse makes every yard and confirms the merit of his latest second placing in the Tote Silver Bowl Trophy.

Catterik kicks off with a cracking two-year-old Novice Stakes which should involve Littlemisssunshine (1.50) and Starlit Sands.

Preference is marginally for the former, a speedy filly from Stan Moore's yard who has posted decent speed figures in defeat at Newmarket and Ascot.

The two-mile staying Handicap might well fall to True (4.45), a previous course and distance scorer likely to be given a masterly ride by one of the best hold-up riders in the north, Paul Fessey.