Alhaarth may go down to Rio

GREG WOOD

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum is a fortunate man. Most owners with a runner in a Group Two event would be delighted if only two rivals opposed it. Sheikh Hamdan, by contrast, was put out to find Alhaarth, the Derby favourite, heading a three-runner field for today's Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. "It's disappointing," he said yesterday. "We may not find out much more about him."

Most punters, however, already know - or think they know - a great deal about Alhaarth. Three runs, three wins and 7-1 for the 1996 Derby, it would seem that if he can canter safely to post this afternoon, he need only come back a little faster to take another successful step up in class.

Yet the memory of Lake Coniston's miserable performance at odds of 1- 3 in Haydock's Sprint Cup should be fresh (and possibly painful) enough to deter anyone from stepping in for similar odds about Alhaarth. What's more, his elegant action may not be suited by the softened going, while three-runner races are notoriously unpredictable.

In the circumstances, Rio Duvida (next best 3.35) is an alternative. David Loder's colt stayed on into fourth behind Tagula in the July Stakes at Newmarket, and might not need to improve dramatically to run the favourite close. Loder may also upset a few short-odds accumulators in the Troy Stakes, in which Tenorio (3.05) is taken against Singspiel. Michael Stoute's colt runs here in preference to the Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday, but may have to settle for second place for the fifth time in six outings.

Riyadian (2.35) has not run since finishing seventh to Lammtarra in the Derby, but should still be too good for another poor field. The sprint handicap, on the other hand, will spread 22 runners across the straight five furlongs, and the draw may be of little assistance since its effect has been unusually fickle. Bangles (4.10), right in the middle in stall 12, is the best option.

At Goodwood, BONARELLI (nap 2.40) can continue his rapid improvement on his first step into Listed company, probably at the expense of Sheikh Hamdan's Mushahid. Still, he can afford the odd loser.