MICK CHANNON is determined to give Doncaster's St Leger 2-Y-O Stakes his best shot by going in mob-handed with five runners for the big money £300,000 contest.

No stranger to hitting the back of the net in his England football days, Channon's trademark arm-whirling celebration could be in evidence if Johar Jamal delivers.

According to my figures Johar Jamal (3.45) is the pick of Channon's quintet, calculations based on her last two runs when scoring at Newmarket, and then running with credit at York.

Napped by the column on the last-named occasion, I knew we'd done our dough seconds after leaving the stalls since the selection couldn't go the early pace.

In the circumstances the filly did well to make late headway and dead-heat for seventh spot, moreover, she dug very deep when asked for full throttle.

This afternoon's longer distance represents vital extra real estate for Jimmy Quinn's mount, who'll have more time to get organised after the gates open.

Lambourn-based handler Barry Hills always brings a powerful raiding party to the Town Moor's Leger meeting, so much so that it often pays to back his horses "blind".

His first runner on the card, Moville (2.05), showed much improvement on his latest Newmarket start, a decent performance which signaled the colt's turn was near.

Moville is due to be partnered by the trainer's son Michael, but it's the jockey find of the season, William Buick who is trusted with steering Royal Confidence (2.40).

There was plenty to like about the way Royal Confidence toyed with her Sandown rivals in August, cruising behind the leaders prior to blasting clear inside the final furlong.

Hills' handsome pay day looks set to be complete when Parisian Dream (5.30) takes his chance in the closing Classified Stakes.

Parisian Dream has yet to finish out of the first three to date this term, latterly beating the ultra-consistent Emerald Wilderness, who provides a solid yardstick from a form perspective.

Despite the controversy surrounding Haydock's over-watering at the weekend, the Clerk of the Course is threatening to put yet more to come.

Making the surface safe is one thing, but denying fast-ground horses a level playing field makes a mockery of the whole idea of thoroughbred Flat racing.

Granted questionable underfoot conditions, betting is even riskier than usual, therefore I advise a watching brief apart from Chatham Islands (4.10).