THERE are plenty of other decent betting opportunities at Sandown apart from Grandera in the Coral Eclipse, notably Astonished (2.50), sent down from Lynda Ramsden's stable, situated just outside of Thirsk.

The five-year-old powerhouse goes for the Porcelanosa Sprint Stakes having previously somewhat disappointed in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.

There didn't seem to be any particular reason for Astonished's lacklustre display, although Kieren Fallon held up his mount and consequently the combination didn't really manage to get into the firing line.

Whatever the reason for the flop, he showed last season, when trained by John Hammond in France, that he is entirely capable of holding his own at this sort of level.

And there's more local interest to be had in the extended two-mile Theodore Goddard Handicap given the inclusion in the field of Gracilis (4.05), an extremely progressive gelding in the care of rookie handler Alan Swinbank, whose yard is located at Melsonby, near Richmond, in North Yorkshire.

The four-year-old son of Caerleon is bidding to complete a fabulous four-timer after winning twice at Pontefract and once at Southwell. By far and away his most impressive performance was at the first-named course 18 days ago, when he drew well clear of his rivals to record a hugely impressive eight-length success over Rigadoon.

Haydock stage one of their most important Flat fixtures of the calendar by virtue of prestigious double-header - the Group 3 Lancashire Oaks, followed by the Tote-sponsored Old Newton Cup.

The question on many racing fans' lips at present is whether the ten-times former champion trainer Henry Cecil is on the verge of retirement? But while speculation continues to be rife there is still work to be done on the track and in the shape of Sacred Song (3.10), Cecil has a very classy filly capable of confirming likely favouritism in the Oaks.

I also believe the probable market leader in the £50,000 Old Newton Cup, Takamaka Bay (3.45), will prevail.

He was a 10-1 winning nap for this column at Royal Ascot, scraping home by a short-head from stable-mate Akbar in a titanic duel for the valuable Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap.

"The sky's the limit for this horse," said trainer Mark Johnston after the heroic effort, a sentiment I would thoroughly concur with having seen the gutsy son of Unfuwain in action against Group standard horses on the home gallops.

The £10,000 Hypac Handicap is the highlight of an intriguing six-race card at Beverley.

Trying to suss out the result of such 18-runner cavalry charges is enough to test the patience of even the most assiduous form students.

My idea of the premier each-way selection is Shirley Not (4.10), drawn out with the washing at Chester last time but much better placed zooming out of stall 15 today.

Alan Berry's string are on fire at present, so I nominate Corunna (3.15) to take the honours at Leicester in the Castle Peugot Classified Stakes.

He won doing handsprings at Lingfield, a victory suggesting his winning streak is far from over yet.

* NORTHERN ECHO, fitted with a visor for the first time in the Anne Lywood Maiden Handicap at Warwick yesterday, was up with the leaders throughout until fading in the final furlong. The race was won by the 8-1 shot Glen Vale Walk, tipped by Janus.

* Paul Webber scooped the biggest Flat success of his training career when Ulundi held the late thrust of Thundering Surf to land the £100,000 Tote Exacta Handicap at Sandown yesterday.

Ulundi has proved a real money-spinner for Webber since on the advice of Maxine Cowdrey the gelding was switched by owner David Heath to Webber from his previous trainer Lady Herries.

Connections reasoned that the six-year-old would benefit from a location on its own, well away from other yards, and Webber's Banbury base fitted the bill perfectly. Since then, Ulundi has triumphed in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr as well as a valuable handicap at Goodwood.

In yesterday's mile-and-a-quarter contest, Richard Hughes gave the 10-1 chance a peach of a ride to lay down a challenge to Riberac well over two furlongs out and then, having shaken off that rival, hold Thundering Surf in a driving finish.

Hopes are high in the Webber camp that Ulundi can make an impact against the cream of the hurdling crop next season and owner Heath is clutching vouchers at fancy prices for next year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle.