On the eve of the first Classic, Chris McGrath finds some lesser lights it will pay to follow

Once again, as when Most Improved hobbled away from the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, the favourite for a key Qipco 2,000 Guineas trial has dropped out at the 11th hour. Roger Charlton has decided that it would be looking for trouble to run Top Offer in deteriorating conditions at Newbury today, just a fortnight before the Guineas, and duly scratched him from the Aon Greenham Stakes.

For Flat racing fans, that business at Aintree that has to be consigned to the formbook before full attention focuses on the purest form of the sport is frustratingly delayed this year; because of the religious calendar, no Grand National will ever have been run on a later date than this year's, on 14 April.

The prospect of Mick Easterby saddling a Group One winner at his big local meeting – in the colours, moreover, of Lee Westwood and Chubby Chandler – is too delicious for many to concern themselves with the odds against Hoof It in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York today. He certainly warrants a crack at an elite prize, after thriving so extravagantly in handicaps, and should cope with the return to five furlongs after travelling so powerfully over a sixth.

With the search for a sprint star still on, the spotlight will be on next week's Nunthorpe Stakes at York and, in particular, the latest Group One-winning speedster to put a newly gained reputation on the line. Step forward Prohibit, who made his first appearance at the top level in this country a winning one when he beat one of Australia's best, Star Witness, fair and square in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Richard Hannon, despondent and defiant after the defeat of Canford Cliffs on Wednesday, can cheer himself up today with a colt who could yet develop into a successor to his stable star. Harbour Watch runs in the same colours, and the early signs are that he will prove another advertisement for the champion trainer's tried-and-tested system. By a young commercial sire, and bought in the middle tier of the yearling market, he made a striking debut at one of Hannon's favourite tracks, Salisbury. He then pulverised some smart types at Newmarket, bursting four and a half lengths clear of Burwaaz.

To reach for the stars is not always as remote an ambition as Frankel made it seem yesterday. Today's two big races, lacking truly dominant operators in their very different disciplines, could both demonstrate the proximity between the top handicappers and the ostensible elite.

Fiorente should continue his upward curve in the Gordon Stakes on opening day of Glorious Goodwood

The Royal Family is to receive a recession-proof financial deal that guarantees it an annual income of around £35m in future years.

Fame And Glory continued Ballydoyle's great tradition in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

There are many fun ways to choose which horse to put your money on at this week's Royal Ascot: you could study the form and weather conditions; you could close your eyes and use a pin to pick a pony; or you could – and this is one for the real aficionados out there – choose according to which jockey's silks you like best.