Racing: Tillerman can steer Hughes back on course

Those who watched the Melrose Stakes at York on Thursday – a race which resembled two angry dogs fighting over a bone – are not the only ones a little disquieted by the officials' response it seems. Jamie Spencer and Johnny Murtagh, ostensibly those holding the collars of the two main scrappers, have thus far accepted their suspensions. Richard Hughes, who appeared to many to be the passenger on the bone, is rather less happy. He is to appeal over his five-day suspension incurred at the Knavesmire.

It was not the most just, neither the most timely, removal from the workplace for the Irishman as he strives to overtake a countryman in the race for the jockeys' title. Kieren Fallon, the championship leader, is about to be thrown in the slammer himself and this is the time when Hughes should be making significant inroads.

Immediate succour may come today however when the skeletal jockey partners an old ally in Tillerman (next best 2.50) in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Richard Hannon has tried to saturate the market here by saddling three of the seven runners, of which the trusty Redback appears the best. Rely, though, on Tillerman, who will earn the rating as the short-distance traveller from Amanda Perrett's Pulborough yard.

The folding, as opposed to the zip, section of the wallet should be reserved however for HALMAHERA (nap 2.15). The old boy is not the most frequent of winners, but a big field across the slanting plains of this Sussex course suits him admirably. The seven-year-old was second in the Stewards' Cup earlier this month from a poor draw and will be difficult to keep out of the frame at the very least.

The sun goes down on the evening racing season when the boats chug up the Thames to the Windsor landing for the last time this campaign, while there is further evidence that times are also changing, for the time being at least, in Ireland.

Ballydoyle remains in the thrall of the illness which has crept across Ireland this summer and the giant is prone. The little folk must take their chance. That means that Britain's trainers can travel to the Curragh today without the thought of coming up against an unbeateable army.

The Tattersalls Breeders Stakes is the main race on the card and Hannon has again turned up the beds in the barracks to get the troops on the road. Mick Kinane will be on the Wiltshire trainer's Cosmo, while Dane O'Neill, a winner of this race for three years in succession, partners Let's Party.

British-based runners also try to make a mark on a foreign field while the Ballydoyle cat is dozing in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville tomorrow.

Most notable here is Gerard Butler's impressive Richmond Stakes winner at Goodwood, Elusive City, one of the fastest, angriest and most effective two-year-olds seen out this season.

Willie Carson, the European racing manager for the Thoroughbred Corporation, owners of the colt, said: "Elusive City is in good form – we wouldn't be sending him if he wasn't. It was Gerard's decision where we'd go, and he fancied going to France for the Group One."

Elusive City is to be joined by the Mick Channon-trained Zafeen and Richard Hannon's Al Turf for the six-furlong event.

* Tony McCoy has one ride at Cartmel this afternoon and one, for Martin Pipe, at Worcester this evening as he goes in pursuit of the four winners that he requires to equal Richard Dunwoody's career record of 1,699 British jumps winners.