RICHARD HANNON'S horses have struggled to prevail at the highest level this season, but there's still time for Tamburlaine (2.50) to put things right by taking this afternoon's £80,000 Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

The East Everleigh-based trainer was in bullish mood about his charge prior to last week's Hungerford Stakes at Newbury - and he wasn't far wrong because Tamburlaine beat all bar all-the-way winner, Atavus.

That contest was over seven furlongs, however there can little doubt Tamburlaine's optimum trip is one mile, a fact amply demonstrated by his one-and-a-quarter length second to Golan in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

As a rule assiduous students of racing have not gone far wrong by using Classic form as their principal yardstick and I'm not about to take issue with that tried and tested formula.

The obvious danger to the selection is Sir Michael Stoute's No Excuse Needed, runner-up to Nouverre in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over course and distance earlier on in the month.

Kieren Fallon's mount has not had a hard campaign and the Stoute team were in excellent fettle at York's Ebor Meeting this week landing a couple of the big handicaps.

Over at Newmarket, John Carroll, who normally spends the winter riding in Dubai, still finds the time to boot home fifty winners or more on home soil every season

He's currently standing on the 41-winner mark for the year with fair prospects of adding to the tally via Cardinal Venture (3.45) and J M W Turner (4.15).

Most recently at Thirsk Cardinal Venture had the double disadvantage of shouldering top-weight from a diabolically wide draw out in the cheap seats, so arguably in the circumstances ran a brilliant race to finish fourth.

The fact that Cardinal Venture is now much better drawn, has less weight to carry, plus reverts to her favoured trip of seven furlongs, suggests she is going to be a major force in the Chris Blackwell Memorial Stakes.

J M W Turner has been absent for a couple of months since collecting in emphatic fashion at Hamilton in June.

At the time it didn't appear to be anything special, but the race has subsequently thrown up plenty of winners and it looks like Nick Littmoden has saved his colt specifically for the Tote Trifecta Nursery in view of the substantial prize money on offer.

The aptly-named Rymers Rascal (4.25) is the best each-way news I have on an action-packed card at Beverley.

Perhaps "old rascal" would be nearer the mark as the unpredictable gelding is fast approaching veteran status at nine-years of age. Although he generally saves a bit for himself, Eric Alston's runner is on the right sort of rating to be in the money for the NetBetSports. com Handicap.

A little later on the giant chestnut, Danton (5.00), who waltzed to victory on his sole start at Newcastle, is confidently expected to follow-up in the extended one mile Classified Stakes.

Jumping finally resumes at Cartmel after a long break due to foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Interestingly Ferdy Murphy has opted to bring out the once classy, although sadly injury-prone Irish Stamp (4.00), to contest the most valuable race on the card, the £6,000 Burlington Slate Handicap Chase.

Irish Stamp jumps and stays well, nor will he lack anything on the fitness front if Ferdy's previous track record is anything to go by.

Finally to Redcar's evening' fixture where Typhoon Ginger (6.20) has as good as chance as any in the Rycroft Mercedes Handicap.

On her latest start at the course she was out with washing and being scrubbed along with only two furlongs to travel. Then the turbo suddenly kicked in and in all honesty the six-year-old mare was a shade unfortunate not to get up in a thrilling three-way photo finish.

* Nap selection Ela D'Argent obliged at odds of 3-1 at Newcastle last night to keep up Janus's sparkling run of form.

* Kieren Fallon sported Hamdan Al Maktoum's second colours on Mugharreb in the Listed Hopeful Stakes, but he persuaded the Gone West colt to put his best foot forward and that was good enough to come out on top at Newmarket yesterday.

The three times champion dashed Mugharreb into the lead with a furlong to race, getting first run on Welcome Friend who was having a bit of trouble finding daylight.

He eventually did so, but Mugharreb had flown and Fallon kept him going strongly up the hill to hold him off by one and three quarter lengths.