RINGWORM knocked David Barron's stable for six earlier on this year, but now that his horses are beginning to fire Blonde Streak (2.35) is well worthy of support at York.

Blonde Streak didn't do herself any favours in the Carlisle Bell last time out, firstly getting a bit stewed up in the preliminaries, and then blotting her copybook by running a tad keenly early doors.

Paul Hanagan was in the saddle that day, but he's currently suspended and has been replaced by Kevin Darley. One of Darley's supreme strengths is to get his mounts in a relaxed mode - so important with the likes of Blonde Streak, a bit of fizzy filly at the best of times.

She's certainly got the form to win the one-mile Hearthstead Homes Handicap, and neither will the softening surface inconvenience her having scored on similar ground at Thirsk just over a year ago.

Darley may also be on the mark in the following Cuisine de France Summer Stakes aboard Ringmoor Down (3.05).

The Lambourn-trained mare has really found her feet over the past few weeks, picking up a Listed contest at Bath, as well as running well at Royal Ascot and when second to Orientor at Sandown on Saturday.

Ringmoor's Down distinctive hold-up style is not always easy to execute, however Darley will be well aware he must wait until the last minute to launch the selection, therefore don't expect to see the combination appear until late on the scene.

Darley then makes the dash by air to Chepstow in order to partner Patrick Haslam's star filly, Kinniard (8.35), in a £20,000 Group 3 event.

Kinnaird has performed with credit in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas, each time shaping as if this evening's extra two furlongs will not come amiss.

The ease with which Fantasy Believer (3.15) brushed aside his rivals at Newbury suggests he can follow up in Ascot's Rendezvous Casino Handicap.

John Quinn regularly travels his gelding down south and, seeing as Fantasy Believer prevailed over track and trip in July 2003, mid-summer is clearly his time of year.

When Zeitgeist (3.50) won at Redcar in May he looked like a really progressive individual, unfortunately it turned out not to be the case because he was eclipsed by 20-1 outsider Millennium Hall when a hot odds-on favourite next time out.

Maybe the long journey from Newmarket to Scotland contributed to that reverse and, with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, Cumani's three-year-old is definitely worth at least one more shot.

l James Fanshawe and Johnny Murtagh capped a memorable few days when Frizzante flew home in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket to give them their second Group One success of the week.

The recently-formed partnership upset the apple cart on Tuesday when Soviet Song turned over Attraction in the Falmouth Stakes.

And the pair threw up another surprise with the 14-1 winner of the July meeting showpiece.

Frizzante, trained locally at Fanshawe's Pegasus Stables, saw off 19 rivals who travelled the world for the six-furlong contest, with Australian hope Exceed and Excel being sent off the 4-1 favourite.

However, the market leader never looked like getting dangerous during the closing stages and it was left to 100-1 shot Ashdown Express, Balmont (25-1) and Hong Kong-raider Cape Of Good Hope (20-1) to fill the places.

Exceed and Excel was smartly away from his draw in stall three and was soon joined at the head of affairs by Patavellian and Japanese raider Seeking The Dia.

Irish challenger Antonius Pius was under pressure by halfway and as the leaders started to crumble, Balmont looked the be the biggest danger.

But it was Murtagh who stole the show, quickening from some way off the pace to get Frizzante home by a neck.

l Officials at York report the Knavesmire to have so far missed the majority of the heavy rain that has been sweeping the country.

The meeting at Doncaster scheduled for last night was been abandoned with standing water on the track. But there are no such problems for York's two-day meeting, which climaxes with the John Smith's Cup tomorrow.

''The ground is now good, good to soft in places. We've been lucky with the rain and have actually only had five millimetres today,'' said clerk of the course William Derby.

York will be offering a special discount at today for any racegoer that had booked to attend the fixture at Doncaster. On production of a valid admission ticket or daily badge, entry will be allowed into the main grandstand and paddock enclosure for £5.