Racing: Bookies shun Wince

SELDOM DOES a Henry Cecil-trained horse win a Classic trial without barging its way to the front of the market for the race in question. So bookmakers' offer of Wince at 16-1 for the 1,000 Guineas after a clear, if workmanlike, victory in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury yesterday prompted a smile from Warren Place fans.

Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill all list the daughter of Selkirk at 16-1 after her length-and-a-half beating of Golden Silca in the Group Three Newbury warm-up.

No doubt, the form of the race falls short of the Classic benchmark, but Wince showed a turn of speed between horses to win it and Cecil rates her good enough to represent Khalid Abdullah unless Andre Fabre has a better filly to run.

"She is not what we call tuned up," Cecil said, "and hopefully she will come on and it will be worth running her."

Wince's presence in the Guineas would force Fallon to reject the ride on the favourite Moiava, made available by the suspension of Oliver Doleuze. "If she runs, he rides," asserted Cecil. "He is my jockey."

Moiava delighted her trainer, Criquette Head, in a workout before racing got underway at Maisons-Laffitte yesterday.