THE joyful prospect of raising hats to a Royal winner during this most important of racing weeks, becomes very much a reality on Knavesmire tomorrow when Promotion, owned by the Queen, has an outstanding chance of success.

Trained at Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute, who sent out Peeress to win yesterday's Ribblesdale Stakes, Promotion goes for the Wolferton Handicap with Michael Kinane, fresh from a treble on the course yesterday, in the saddle.

Twelve months ago at Royal Ascot, Promotion finished second in this corresponding race, after being the subject of an inspired gamble.

Only Red Fort saved the bookies from making a massive payout.

Now Promotion gets the chance to go one better, which he is fancied to do after a creditable effort on his latest effort on his seasonal reappearance, when he finished fourth to stablemate Notable Guest at Newmarket.

Promotion is no stranger to this course, having finished second to Arcalis in the John Smith's Cup on Knavesmire last summer.

Overdue a win, he can put his head in front tomorrow - and provide Her Majesty the Queen with the most popular triumph of the entire week.

The Coronation Stakes is the feature event tomorrow and this Group 1 contest for fillies, which boasts prize money of £225,000, may be best left to Cape Columbine, trained by David Elsworth and the mount of Richard Quinn.

Narrowly beaten by Karen's Caper in the Nell Gwyn Stakes on her reappearance, Cape Columbine then finished fifth in the 1,000 Guineas, becoming outpaced two furlongs out, after racing prominently, before staying on again towards the finish.

Given time to recover from those exertions, Cape Columbine is expected to be better served by this turning track and is worth another chance to prove herself a Group 1 filly.

Karen's Caper and Maids Causeway, to whom she is closely linked on form, probably represent her biggest dangers, along with Virginia Waters.

In the Albany Stakes, which opens the programme, Spinning Queen - hardly a reference to our honoured guest on Knavesmire - is napped to provide Barry Hills and his jockey-son Michael with a notable double, following their success on Tuesday with Red Clubs in the Coventry Stakes.

A daughter of Spinning World, Spinning Queen ran out an impressive winner on her debut at Haydock, gaining a wide-margin victory in the style of a high-class juvenile.

She will be hard to beat, though Dhekraa, also a Haydock winner on her debut, may provide a live danger.

In the King Edward VII Stakes, make a note of Mountain High from the Sir Michael Stoute stable.

An easy winner at Chester last month, he looks an exciting prospect.

Stamina will be at a premium in the Queen's Vase over two miles, and Saadig should not be underestimated.

The Michael Jarvis-trained colt, a Beverley winner earlier this season, ran well in defeat when third at Newbury last time over 12 furlongs.

He should relish this extra halfmile. Jarvis and his stable-jockey Philip Robinson - successful in yesterday's Royal Hunt Cup aboard New Seeker - can also land the King George V Handicap with Consular.

This colt came out on top in gritty style in a hot maiden race at Haydock last time and does not look overburdened on his handicap debut.

Friday's tips:

Royal Ascot at York

2-30 Spinning Queen (NAP)

3-05 Mountain High

3-45 Cape Columbine

4-20 Promotion

4-55 Saadig

5-30 Consular

Updated: 10:25 Thursday, June 16, 2005