Islington, who twice played a starring role at York last year, can dominate centre-stage in tomorrow's showpiece event, the £350,000 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Sir Michael Stoute's filly, the mount of Kieren Fallon, is fancied to have the edge over another top-notch performer who has thrilled local crowds, Nayef, winner of last season's International Stakes on Knavesmire.

Inconvenienced by a series of niggling problems earlier this year, Islington did not make her reappearance until last month's Royal Ascot meeting, where she finished third to Nayef in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

That was a fine comeback from a filly who had had a less than ideal preparation and reports from Newmarket suggest she has benefitted enormously from that outing.

Nayef, four-times a Group One winner, will be a tough nut to crack once again but Islington, winner of last season's Yorkshire Oaks and Musidora Stakes, not to mention the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, is likely to prove an even stronger threat this time.

A cracking race is in prospect, with Falbrav and Derby fourth Norse Dancer also in attendance, but Islington is strongly fancied to come out on top and provide Stoute with his fifth Coral-Eclipse in ten years.

Stoute and Fallon look set to enjoy a thrilling afternoon. They also boast strong chances with Favourable Terms (4-10), South Atlantic (4-45) and Machinist (5-20).

At Beverley, all eyes will be on Sir Sandrovitch in the featured £20,000 Mondi Hypac Handicap over five furlongs.

Richard Fahey's in-form sprinter won three races, including one over this course and distance, within five days last week.

Now re-handicapped and with the ground having eased more, which is ideal for him, Sir Sandrovitch is going to find it tough to extend his sequence. But it is not impossibe for a horse in such tremendous form.

Sir Mark Prescott's Manipulator, who got off the mark at Hamilton last time, will relish the step up to an extended seven furlongs in the John Jenkins Memorial Novice Stakes, while Strong Hand, another recent Hamilton winner, can provide Mick Easterby with another success in the BP Saltend Handicap.

A brace of £60,000 races highlight a cracking card at Haydock, where Time Ahead will surely take all the beating in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks.

John Dunlop's filly underlined her quality when finishing second in the French Oaks. Up in trip here, she has everything in her favour, not least her jockey; Pat Eddery has been booked to ride the nap selection.

The bet365 Old Newton Cup brings Stoute back into the equation.

The Newmarket trainer saddles Manoubi, whose impressive Hamilton success three weeks ago entitles him to plenty of respect in this 12-furlong contest.

Tomorrow's tips:

Sandown

1-45 The Tatling

2-20 Persian Punch

2-55 Unshakeable

3-35 Islington

4-10 Favourable Terms

4-45 South Atlantic

5-20 Machinist

Beverley

1-55 Moscow Mary

2-30 Manipulator

3-00 Strong Hand

3-30 Best Port

4-00 Sir Sandrovitch

4-30 Analyze

5-05 Quicks The Word

Haydock

2-05 Football Crazy

2-40 Time Ahead (NAP)

3-10 Manoubi

3-45 Somnus

4-20 Hey Presto

4-55 Mutasawwar

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Leicester and Chepstow.

Updated: 12:40 Friday, July 04, 2003