FRANKIE DETTORI can continue on the crest of a wave with a double at Nottingham today. The Italian knows he has practically no chance of retaining the jockeys' championship after missing eight weeks' racing due to injury. He is around 70 winners behind Pat Eddery with just two months of the turf season left.
But he has been riding big winners aplenty since his comeback and he clinched Saturday's St Leger at Doncaster with a power-packed ride on Shantou.
Dettori's enthusiasm for racing knows no bounds and he'll be almost as delighted to partner Euphonic and Cretan Gift to victory in events carrying a combined total of under £8,000 in added money.
Euphonic will be well suited by a step up to two miles in the opening Carlton Handicap.
He stayed on well after being caught flat-footed on the home turn when third over a mile and three quarters at Kempton last time, hinting strongly that there would be better to come over further.
The six-year-old showed fair form in 1993 and looks to have been nursed right back to his best by Ian Balding after a lay-off.
Euphonic is well treated at the weights on his old form and looks to have ideal conditions in which to prove the point.
Cretan Gift can dispel the myth that he is only effective on the all-weather by taking the Nottingham Goose Fair Handicap.
It is true that the gelding's last live wins have come on an artificial surface. But he has run numerous good races on turf this season, none more so than when fifth in a big field at Haydock last time after losing ground when hampered at the start.
The five-year-old looks to have been found a good opportunity to resume winning ways on grass.
Over jumps at Fontwell Distant Memory can shrug off top-weight of 12st to collect the Fontwell Handicap Chase.
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