Harry's Stable Whispers

THIS will be the last column to be written from my Swan at Whalley pub in the Ribble Valley, writes HARRY BARLOW.

Next week I should be installed in my new home at Hambleton on the top of Sutton Bank, Thirsk, which is handily-placed to bring you all the latest information from the gallops.

Trainers such as Les Eyre, Richard Fahey, Martyn Wane, David Barker, Mike Dodds and Kevin Ryan are all based nearby.

For the next couple of months it will pay to follow the Godolphin team headed by trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. They brought 50-plus horses over from Dubai in late April and some have taken longer than expected to settle in at Newmarket.

But I have been told after the recent hot weather they have all been impressing on the gallops and they must be followed.

Sir Mark Prescott has been having a record-breaking time over the last couple of weeks and is having winners all over the country whether it be Ayr, Hamilton, Carlisle, Brighton or Folkestone.

Keep following him especially at the Scottish tracks because he rarely goes home without a trophy.

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on Saturday, the winner could very easily take the prize north, even with Daylami and derby winner Oath in the race. The horse I think will win is Mark Johnston's impressive Fruits of Love who will handle the track well. I was at Royal Ascot to witness his triumph in a group race.

Martyn Wane is bullish about Royal Pastimes at Catterick on Wednesday, while at Leicester, the James Fanshawe's Castle Sempill should take the Nursery (7pm).

On Thursday at Sandown Park, Chicadove and Linden Grace should both go close.

At Ascot on Friday in the big sprint, Dandy Nicholls has three entered, but Kieran Fallon is booked for Rudi's Pet and should be thereabouts at the finish.

Have a good week.

TIPS FOR THE WEEK:

Wednesday (Leicester) - Castle Sempill (nap)

Wednesday (Catterick) - Royal Pastimes (e/w)

Thursday (Sandown) - Chicadove (nap)

Thursday (Sandown) - Linden Grace (e/w)

Friday (Ascot) - Rudi's Pet (nap)

Saturday (Ascot) - Fruits of Love (nap)

Saturday (Southwell) - Blackpool Mama's

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.