Racing: Gift horse faces a Rapid rebuff

Speculation over Lester Piggott's Derby ride is entertaining, but no more so than contemplation of the former champion's pre-race chat with connections were he to ride Gisarne in the Oaks. The filly's owner is a tax inspector.

A very fortunate tax inspector, too, who won a year's free lease of Gisarne for the price of a pounds 5 ticket in a Racing Welfare lottery. Tony Hart has already banked a tax-free pounds 3,525 thanks to Gisarne's win in a Haydock maiden earlier this month, and victory in the Lupe Stakes - the last Oaks trial - at Goodwood today would bring not just another pounds 14,000, but also the possibility of a six-figure return, and a place in Turf history, after the Classic on 5 June.

Bitter souls who would prefer not to see a Revenue agent enjoying such good fortune will probably look to Yawl to stifle Gisarne's progress this afternoon. Barry Hills's filly was the ante-post Oaks favourite for much of the winter and early spring, thanks to a win in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in October and a pedigree which promised better to come over middle distances this year.

Such promises are broken more regularly than the glassware at a Russian banquet, though, and anyone thinking of taking short odds about Yawl this afternoon should also be aware that she has just recovered from a cough.

Backers looking for value for money may get a better run from Rapid Repeat (3.10). The step up to 10 furlongs brought striking improvement from Julie Cecil's filly in a Ripon handicap a month ago, and given the doubts surrounding the market leader, and Gisarne's inexperience, she could prove herself worthy of this chance in Listed company.

LYPHANTASTIC (nap 3.40) can improve for the trip in the stayers' handicap after two promising shows over 12 furlongs, while Allthruthenight (2.40) should record his first success over six furlongs in the sprint.

Kissavos (next best 4.10) might prefer a furlong less to travel, but he has winning form over a mile and can exploit a lenient weight.