Seven Group races, including two Group Ones, plus the Cesarewitch Handicap, make up tomorrow's thrill-a-minute Champions Day programme at Newmarket, which surely ranks as the best single day's Flat racing in the entire calendar.

Sheriff Hutton jockey Kevin Darley will be in the thick of the action, being aboard Mister Monet in the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes, and also the unbeaten Shamardal in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. But the local pilot may have to settle for minor honours on the two Mark Johnston-trained runners in their Group One targets.

Mister Monet, for all his dynamic progress this season, faces a searching test again the likes of Azamour and Doyen, with preference for the former, who showed just what a star he is when winning the Irish Champion Stakes on his latest start.

That performance confirmed John Oxx's colt to be top-of-the-tree at this distance of ten furlongs. Further confirmation is anticipated tomorrow.

Sharmardal makes the journey from Middleham to take on ten rivals in the Dewhurst as he bids to make it three wins off the reel.

Impressive though he was at Goodwood last time, Shamardal faces a much stiffer test here and may be put in his place by Etlaala, who overcame trouble in running to win the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time in fine style. He looks very exciting, while the two Godolphin runners, Perfectperformance and Librettist also command the utmost respect.

Sharplaw Star, a Beverley winner last month, is fancied to lift the opening Cornwallis Stakes, while the unbeaten Shanghai Lily, the mount of Kieren Fallon, can complete a hat-trick of wins in the Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes.

As for the totesport Cesarewitch, over two-and-a-quarter miles, Land 'N Stars is burdened with the nap, following an excellent effort in defeat at Yarmouth last time.

Jamie Poulton's charge was narrowly beaten into third by High Point, after meeting trouble in running, but he is weighted to reverse those placings now and add to his previous Goodwood success. He looks good value at around 16-1 and will receive every assistance from Paul Doe, who won last month's Ayr Gold Cup on Funfair Wane.

The Persian Punch Jockey Club Cup looks a cracking race, with Kasthari and Millenary, who dead-heated for first in last month's Doncaster Cup, renewing rivalry.

Marginal preference is for Millenary, who was unsuited by the dawdling gallop at Doncaster, to come out on top here over northern hope Kasthari, trained by Howard Johnson and the mount of Paul Hanagan.

Catterick can not hope to match Newmarket tomorrow, but all credit to them for staging the £20,000 totescoop6 Catterick Dash over five furlongs.

Richard Fahey's Bo McGinty, who has run well in defeat since last month's Sandown victory, could be the one to be on.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Newmarket

1.05 Sharplaw Star; 1.35 Shanghai Lily; 2.05 Firebreak; 2.45 Land 'N Stars (NAP); 3.25 Azamour;

4.00 Etlaala; 4.35 Millenary; 5.10 Alkaadhem.

Catterick

1.50 Regina; 2.25 Bo McGinty; 3.00 Leslingtaylor; 3.35 Fine Lady; 4.10 Yenaled; 4.45 Ego Trip; 5.20 Northern Games.

Tomorrow's other race meeting are at: Kelso (National Hunt, afternoon); Stratford (National Hunt, afternoon); Wolverhamp-ton (all-weather Flat, evening); and Yarmouth (Flat, late morning/early afternoon).

Updated: 11:02 Friday, October 15, 2004