PROVIDED Convent Girl is on her best behaviour she must have a terrific chance of landing this afternoon's Cambridgeshire Handicap.

The £110,000 Newmarket showpiece has once again attracted a maximum 35-runner line-up, so the Nerys Dutfield-trained filly is going to need a little bit of luck to weave her way through the pack.

However, she is virtually a winner without a penalty, having been mugged in the dying strides of a valuable contest at Ascot last weekend, a lifetime-best effort which ably demonstrated the tremendous shape Convent Girl (3.35) is in at present.

The Ascot race was over one mile and I particularly like the fact she is now stepping up a furlong since there is very solid evidence to suggest the fast-improving three-year-old will be even better suited by today's stiffer test of stamina.

I have already donned my black tie on account of Pat Eddery's imminent retirement. The fifty-one-year-old eleven-times former champion jockey is simply irreplaceable, an opinion backed up by the sublime waiting ride he gave Jamie Osborne's Milk It Mick to capture Thursday's Group 3 Somerville Stakes.

Happily Pat can look forward too much more success at headquarters this afternoon's with strongly-fancied mounts in the first three races on the card. The first two, Snow Goose (1.40) and Spotlight (2.15), are both trained by John Dunlop, with whom Eddery has enjoyed a prolifically successful partnership over the past 25 years.

Snow Goose is on the brink of a hat-trick, having pulverised the opposition at Redcar last time out, while Spotlight earned her place in the Listed Oh So Sharp Stakes by accounting for 14 rivals in a decent sort of seven-furlong maiden at Warwick early in September.

Kieren Fallon's most untimely suspension has opened the door for Pat to get the leg up on Sir Michael Stoute's Favourable Terms (2.50) in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes.

Favourable Terms cheekily beat Perfect Touch by a neck in a similar standard contest at Leopardstown a month ago and continues to impress with her admirable attitude.

Chepstow brings the turn of the National Hunt horses sharply into focus with an excellent meeting.

Sue Smith sends Lisdante down from Yorkshire to take part in the skybet.com Handicap Chase over three miles, a brave move with the likes of Wagner (3.30) in the field.

Lisante is a very game and consistent stayer chaser, but my vote just goes to the latter, a six-year-old with a high cruising speed and an assured future as long as his jumping does not let him down.

After the exploits of the triple champion hurdler, Istabraq, any son of Sadler's Wells to go jumping has to be of interest.

Such is the case for the David Jackson-owned Albuhera (4.40), whose useful form on the Flat entitles him to a major shout on his debut over the sticks in the Jewson Novices' Hurdle for the powerful Paul Nicholls' stable.

The quality on view for tomorrow's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp is quite staggering and I firmly believe it will fall to High Chaparral. Aidan O'Brien's 2002 dual English and Irish Derby scorer also finished third in the Arc 12 months ago, not to mention lifting the Breeders Cup Turf in the USA.

And High Chaparral's recent defeat of the mighty Falbrav in the Irish Champion Stakes was nothing short of heroic.

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