UNLESS the heavens open over Newbury and turn the ground to glue, Rakti (2.40) represents the obvious choice for the glittering £200,000 Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.

"He's in good form, however I hope the forecast rain doesn't arrive in time," reported Rakti's upbeat trainer Michael Jarvis ahead of today's eight-furlong championship level showpiece.

Such is the status of the Lockinge that it's hardly ever won by anything other than an outstanding racehorse and Rakti is no exception, having established himself in the top echelons of world-class milers by bagging a brace of Group 1 contests during a lucrative 2004 campaign.

Both of those heroic victories were achieved at Ascot, firstly blasting his way to a glorious victory when beating off all-comers in the Prince Of Wales Stakes on a sun-drenched day at the Royal Meeting.

He then returned to the same venue in the autumn, once again proving much too good for a quality line-up in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes.

Rakti's tendency to pull hard in the early part of his races is always a worry, however regular rider Philip Robinson normally gets his measure, prior to unleashing the sort of sensational acceleration possessed by only the crme de la crme of thoroughbreds.

Incidentally, this year's renewal of the race has added spice by virtue of the presence of Australian star Elvstroem.

The globetrotting five-year-old is not just a prolific scorer Down Under, seeing as he also plundered the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in March, a triumph that proved long-distance travel is no barrier to the classy colt.

* Declan Carroll yesterday lost his plea to the Jockey Club appeal board against a £3,500 fine handed out over the running and riding of Pearl Fisher in February.

Last month the trainer was found by the Jockey Club disciplinary panel to have failed to give apprentice Neil Brown adequate instructions when he partnered the four-year-old to finish ninth in the Labourforce Services Handicap Stakes at Wolverhampton.

The horse was banned from running for 40 days and Brown disqualified for 28 days.

The filly finished ninth of 11 runners, beaten about nine lengths at 66-1.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.