Racing: Bookies vary over Vintage

ODDS quoted by Britain's three main bookmakers rarely vary widely, so the opening betting on Saturday's Irish St Leger provides a refreshing change. Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, a leading Irish firm, have come up with distinctly different prices on the Classic.

Power take the view that Vintage Crop, a local hero after his success in the Melbourne Cup and the winner of last year's Irish St Leger, is a 'good thing' and have him at 5-4. With Ladbrokes he shares favouritism at 5-2 with Bob's Return and Kithanga, but anyone holding a Paddy Power account or prepared to make a quick trip across the Irish Sea can avail themselves of 6-1 about Bob's Return and a healthy 14-1 about Kithanga.

Sara Cumani, wife of Kithanga's trainer Luca, confirmed yesterday that the filly, second to Coigach in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week, is a likely runner. 'She has come out of the race at Doncaster fine and we are very pleased with her,' she said.