Murtagh remains the man on Black

The Dunloe Maiden Stakes, a mile and a quarter maiden at Windsor tonight, promises to be a lively betting race. It is the last race in the Home Counties before Royal Ascot and traditionally this corresponding event attracts plenty of three- and four-figure bets as the "faces" and assorted wide-boys who inhabit the southern racing circuit lump on in attempt to get a decent bank together ahead of the Royal fixture. John Gosden's Eljohar will surely be the destination of choice for the wedge of the discerning lumper.

Latest news concerning the Royal meeting revolves around Johnny Murtagh, who will keep the ride on Black Minnaloushe, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, in tomorrow's St James's Palace Stakes, which attracted 11 final declarations yesterday. Murtagh will stay on board Black Minnaloushe ­ 5-1 with William Hill ­ for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien as stable-jockey Michael Kinane rides Minardi, third to Black Minnaloushe at the Curragh. O'Brien also saddles Darwin (Paul Scallan).

Godolphin run Noverre (Frankie Dettori), winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains but the betting is headed by Dandoun (Pat Eddery) at 7-2, whose trainer John Dunlop also runs Olden Times (Gerald Mossé).

Nick Cheyne, Ascot's clerk of the course reported conditions as "perfect" ahead of the meeting. Heavy rain on Saturday had changed the going to good, but Cheyne said: "We are dry here today and were dry overnight. I'm leaving the going as good with a penetrometer reading of 3.2 so it should be perfect ground. The rain came at the right time. The forecast is possibly for a light shower this afternoon but it doesn't look as though it's going to amount to much. Tomorrow it is to be brighter with sunny spells around and getting warmer into Tuesday and Wednesday."

Orientor, winner of the William Hill Trophy Handicap at York on Saturday, goes for Thursday's Cork And Orrery Stakes rather than the Wokingham Handicap 24 hours later ­ in which Jim Goldie, his trainer, runs Indian Spark.

Glasgow-based Goldie said: "Orientor seems fine and travelled up well. I think he will go for the Cork And Orrery although, if we are struggling to get one of the big boys to ride him, we might switch. He will get an 8lb penalty in the Wokingham which would make him nearly top-weight."

Orientor's half-brother Yeast won the Royal Hunt Cup at the meeting in 1996 and Goldie believes the colt is a late-maturer like his sibling. He said: "We haven't seen the best of him. Look at Yeast, he kept on improving. Orientor is progressive and will be Group class."

Goldie made the 440-mile trip south to Ascot pay off when he lifted the Palan Handicap with Pips Magic at the Heath meeting two years ago. Whatever Orientor's fate, Goldie has high hopes Indian Spark will go well in the Wokingham. He said: "He has been trained for the race since the start of the season. He ran very well in it last year. He was hampered and finished eighth ­ with luck in running he would definitely have been placed. Tony Culhane rides."

Ted Durcan has been handed back the mount on Wokingham favourite Ellens Academy. The dual champion jockey of Dubai takes over from Carl Lowther, who steered the gelding to a six-length victory at Doncaster last time out. Durcan will be seeking a first Royal Ascot win on the six-year-old who tops the Tote's betting at 8-1. Durcan was on board when Ellens Academy was a fast-finishing fifth at York last month, since when riding tactics have been changed. Eric Alston, Ellens Academy's trainer, said: "We used to think he needed holding up but that was wrong. He doesn't need cover, he needs daylight. He may have a job finding some with 30 runners at Ascot, especially as he tends to miss the kick. But he is working well and in super form." Durcan also rides stable-companion Tedburrow in the Cork And Orrery Stakes.

Kinane has been booked to renew his partnership with Wokingham second favourite Capricho, having been on board when the gelding finished a place ahead of Ellens Academy in fourth at York. The pair are among 82 confirmed at the five-day stage for the Wokingham. Dettori will ride Ed Dunlop's 1999 winner Deep Space, with Kieren Fallon on the same trainer's Candleriggs, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager.

ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES (Royal Ascot, tomorrow): Coral: 7-2 Dandoun, 4-1 Black Minnaloushe, Noverre, 6-1 Vahorimix, 7-1 Tamburlaine, Minardi, Malhub, 8-1 Olden Times, 12-1 Keltos, 14-1 No Excuse Needed, 33-1 Darwin. William Hill: 7-2 Dandoun, 9-2 Noverre, 5-1 Black Minnaloushe, Minardi, 8-1 Malhub, Tamburlaine, Vahoramix, 12-1 Olden Times, 16-1 No Excuse Needed, 20-1 Keltos, 100-1 Darwin.