Racing: Mujahid heading for the French Guineas

MUJAHID, THIRD to Island Sands in the 2,000 Guineas, headed five British acceptors yesterday for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) at Longchamp. John Dunlop's colt is joined by Chris Wall's Undeterred, Godolphin's Rhythm Band, Sir Mark Prescott's Triple Dash and Brian Meehan's Indiana Legend among 15 declared for the mile contest. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien relies on Lavery from his four declarations.

Twenty fillies remain in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas), including John Gosden's Valentine Waltz and Capistrano Day, third and fourth to Wince in the 1,000 Guineas. O'Brien has left Pink Coral, Aspen Leaves, Oyster Catch and Crystal Downs in the race. Other acceptors include Jeremy Noseda's Alexis and Godolphin's Calando and Fairy Queen.

Montjeu, entered for the Derby but also engaged in the Prix du Jockey- Club, heads six acceptors for the Group One Prix Lupin, along with O'Brien's Festival Hall and Godolphin's Al Waffi.

n Wall-to-wall racing is almost to become a reality next summer after a revamped fixture list for the year 2000 had been approved by the sport's rulers. The British Horseracing Board has voted for the wholesale changes despite opposition from the racecourses.

They have backed the proposal for racing on 18 consecutive Sundays next year, which will result in fixtures being staged on 132 consecutive days from the end of April to the end of August. To accommodate the extra Sunday programmes, the BHB have controversially decided to axe all the popular Saturday evening meetings in that period.