Racing: Bonny Scot can foil filly in Leger

WIND seems to be racing's theme for today, with Second Set carrying British hopes in tonight's Arlington Million in Chicago, the Windy City, while at Longchamp this afternoon Arazi will line up for the Prix du Moulin with Francois Boutin, his trainer, insisting that last year's champion juvenile is back to his best.

Boutin is one of the finest trainers anywhere, but you cannot help feeling that when it comes to Arazi his needle is firmly stuck, and the record is wearing thin. None the less, Longchamp's racegoers will send him off favourite this afternoon, with Brief Truce (3.00), the horse who beat him in the St James's Palace Stakes, almost ignored at around 7-1. Dermot Weld's colt should teach them, the hard way, that it is better to follow form than speculation.

The Turf rarely gives you too much time to ponder disappointments, and if Arazi does fail Boutin can at least look forward to a big run from Exit To Nowhere in the Million. Second Set is not certain to stay the 10-furlong trip, and Canada's Sky Classic looks the principal danger.

The addition of User Friendly, the Oaks winner, at yesterday's supplementary stage for next Saturday's St Leger has added some much-needed quality to the field, which would otherwise have struggled to boast two Group Three winners. Before taking a short price about her, though, remember that several well-fancied fillies have been turned over in the Leger in recent years. User Friendly was, eventually, impressive in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out, but the stresses of a long season may now be telling and Bonny Scot looks a more worthwhile bet.

Stack Rock can be only a hopeful selection for Wednesday's Portland Handicap, while Abury (4.10) should improve for the trip in the May Hill Stakes later in the afternoon. Storm Dove was one of Glorious Goodwood's easiest winners, and will find the ground more to her liking than several of her rivals in the Kiveton Park Stakes the following day.

Petardia, disappointing in the Gimcrack last month, will still attract support in the Champagne Stakes on Friday, but a more interesting proposition is Lord President. Paul Cole's colt has won only a Newmarket maiden to date, but can cope with the jump in class.