AFTER narrowly missing out on Knavesmire last month, Estimate, owned by Her Majesty the Queen, can bring a Royal flavour to proceedings at Doncaster this afternoon by landing the feature contest.

The mare, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, finished second on her latest outing in the Lonsdale Cup at York, battling tenaciously throughout the final two furlongs, but failing by half a length to catch Pale Mimosa, who got first run on her in a slowly-run race.

Also narrowly denied in the Ascot Gold Cup in June, a race she had won last season, Estimate promises to be hard to beat in the £100,000 Group 2 Doncaster Cup, sponsored by Socialites Electric Cigarettes. Ryan Moore, as usual, rides.

Paul Hanagan and Mark Johnston, pictured, are fancied to lift the £70,000 John Smith's Extra Smooth May Hill Stakes with Muraaqaba, winner of two of her three starts and now awarded the nap vote.

The step up to a mile is expected to be right up the street of this smart filly, whose two previous wins have been gained over six and seven furlongs. She looks potentially top-class.

White Lake looked smart when making a winning debut at York last month and all eyes will be on Luca Cumani's colt in the Weatherbys Stallion Book Flying Scotsman Stakes.

Andrea Atzeni, suspended when he first appeared, will be aboard White Lake as he bids to fulfil his enormous promise and justify his fairly prominent position in the ante-post market for next year's 2,000 Guineas. He faces some useful opposition, but White Lake is selected to come through with flying colours.

The day's action kicks off with the £70,000 Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes, a speed test for juveniles over five furlongs.

This looks a hard race to call with so many horses with strong claims, but Ryan Moore's progressive mount Moonraker, trained by Mick Channon, ran so well to be beaten a whisker by Mind Of Madness in the Roses Stakes at York that he may be able to turn the tables this time and nab a Group 2 triumph.

Highfield trainer John Quinn will doubtless be looking ahead at some juicy hurdle targets for Pearl Castle, but the versatile gelding can pay his way in the meantime on the Flat. Winner of the Queen Mother's Cup at York in mid-summer and a good fourth on the course last month, he has every chance of figuring in the shake-up of the ultra-competitive Ladbrokes Mallard Handicap.

At Chester, Brian Ellison goes in search of further course gains with Top Of The Glas in the £12,000 Feel The Rush At Betffair Handicap.

The three-year-old bagged a valuable handicap at this venue last month and, still improving, it would be no great surprise to see him oblige again with smart Norton apprentice Joe Doyle retaining the ride and claiming a useful 5lb off his back.

Julie Camacho can win the Emily Ffion Trust Handicap for gentleman amateur riders with My Single Malt.

The six-year-old won a lady amateur riders' race on this course a couple of outings ago and is clearly well suited to his track and the distance of an extended seven furlongs. A bold bid is anticipated in the safe hands of the up-and-coming Harry Stock.

Mark Johnston has a couple of useful juvenile chances with the promising Manshaa (2.00) and course-and-distance winner Bizzario (2.30), while John Quinn's El Beau (4.15), lightly-raced but promising this season, may have the edge over Johnston's Mambo Rhythm later in the afternoon.


Selections

Doncaster today

1.40 Moonraker, 2.10 Pearl Castle, 2.40 Estimate, 3.15 Muraaqaba (NAP), 3.45 Danzeno, 4.25 White Lake, 5.00 Puzzle Time.

Chester today

2.00 Manshaa, 2.30 Bizzario, 3.05 Top Of The Glas, 3.40 Almashooqa, 4.15 Charlotte's Day, 4.50 El Beau, 5.20 My Single Malt.

Today's other meetings

Salisbury and Sandown.

Tomorrow's meetings

Bath, Chester, Doncaster, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.