IF recent gallop reports prove to be correct then Sulamani (3.00) is going to be a hard horse to beat in the Juddmonte International Stakes on day one of York's Ebor meeting.

With a cool £450,000 in the kitty for the much-sought after Group 1 prize, the extended ten furlong contest has attracted a top-class field with raiders from Britain, France, and Ireland, all vying to establish their superiority in one of the most prestigious annual races run in the UK.

Just like most walks of life, money talks in the horse racing business and there has been a torrent of cash for Sulamani over the past few days in response to a series of sparkling workouts on Newmarket Heath.

Currently standing at 11-4 second favourite to Bago for the big-race, the bookies stand to lose an absolute packet should as expected Frankie Dettori's mount clean out his rivals on the easy ground so vital for him to show his best form.

Although John Dunlop's market leader Milenary would also be a bad result for the leading layers if he defies top-weight in the Lonsdale Cup, they might get out of jail if Royal Rebel (1.50) is in the mood for a scrap.

Mark Johnston's dual Ascot Gold Cup winner ran a magnificent race in defeat when chasing home his stable-mate, Darasim, at Glorious Goodwood, an effort which clearly demonstrated he was back to something like his terrific form of old.

Royal Rebel, who has been a bit of monkey on occasions in the past, has really been enjoying himself on Middleham Moor this summer, giving the distinct impression that he remains capable of holding his own in all of the major staying races.

Johnston plays another of his aces, Elliots World (3.35), in the later Listed Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs.

A tall imposing individual, Elliots World massacred the opposition when winning by six lengths on his track and trip debut last month. Using that evidence as a reliable yardstick, he's a two-year-old not to be underestimated, especially as the stable is particularly strong in the colts' division.

Unearthing the winner of the closing Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack, such is the competitive nature of the 20-runner event.

Although locally-trained Fantasy Believer is bound to come in for plenty of support following his super second in the Stewards' Cup, the one I'm recommending for an each-way wager is Tom Tun (4.45).

Napped by this column on Saturday in the Great St Wilfred at Ripon, Tom Tun ran an absolute stinker, never at any stage threatening to hand in the finish. It was simply too bad to be true and full marks to trainer John Balding for pulling out his horse again only three days after that dismal performance.

It is pretty obvious from Balding's decision that there is nothing physically wrong with Tom Tun, and having fancied him so strongly at the weekend it would be folly to write him off for one solitary bad day at the office.

In a break from convention, I'm going to steer away from the principal meeting for the nap selection, instead turning to Hamilton where Creskeld (3.15) is worth a second glance in the totepool Series Final.

On a point of handicapping Creskeld has won off a mark 14lbs higher on the sand, however he's also fairly useful on turf and with Bryan Smart's team now back on song he gets into the £15,000 race on what is an indisputably winning weight.

l Attraction is reported to be in fine form despite flopping in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

Mark Johnston's filly, winner of the English and Irish 1000 Guineas as well as the Coronation Stakes, trailed home last of the ten runners in the French Group One race.

The daughter of Efisio was suffering only the second defeat in her ten-race career and Johnston's wife Deirdre believes her poor performance was down to the soft ground.

''She was great this morning. We won't be running her on that kind of ground again."