Theatreworld has class and pace to take Ebor

Theatreworld can take centre stage and become the first Irish-trained horse since Bonne Noel in 1973 to win the £165,000 Tote Ebor Handicap at York today.

Raiders from Ireland nearly always face the problem of being weighted up to the hilt by the handicapper.

But Theatreworld could be a rare exception and he certainly has the class and credentials to land what is always one of the most intriguing handicaps of the season.

Like Sea Pigeon, who took the Ebor in 1979, Theatreworld is a smart hurdler, having finished runner-up in the last two Champion Hurdles.

And Aidan O'Brien's six-year-old is no fool on the flat either, with over £70,000 in win and place prize money to his credit.

Those funds were boosted on his latest start at the Galway Festival, as Theatreworld romped away with a £13,000 handicap over a mile and a half, beating Winged Hussar three and a half lengths.

Theatreworld stays a mile and three-quarters and beyond but also has plenty of pace. A fast gallop is on the cards and it would be no surprise to see him arrive late on the scene under Cash Asmussen.

The main threats to the selection may come from any one of four who filled the placings in a handicap over course and distance last month - Sheer Danzig, Dream Of Nurmi, Street General and Ridaiyma - while improving three-year-old Tuning also has prospects.

Mujahid can come out on top in a strong field of juveniles for the £125,000 Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.

John Dunlop's colt has created a very favourable impression on two starts, beating Belasco by a head on his Newmarket debut and then trouncing Sunny Fact by six lengths in a small race at Salisbury. There should be better still to come.

The £170,000 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks is a typically tricky fillies' contest and backers could do worse than to side with Crown Of Light.

The four-year-old makes her seasonal debut for Godolphin here but is sure to have been got fighting fit at home.

She was trained by Michael Stoute last year, finishing a close third to My Emma in this race, having earlier run third in the Oaks.

The consistent Lightning Blaze is as good a choice as any in the Rous Selling Stakes while The Limping Cat can bounce back to form in the PG Tips Pyramid Bag Handicap.

At Musselburgh, the enigmatic but well-handicapped Latvian is worth chancing to overturn Netta Rufina in the Festival Handicap.

Ante-post favourite Elnadim came through a workout yesterday and is on course for tomorrow's Persimmon Homes Nunthorpe Stakes at York after a minor setback.

Hamdan Al Maktoum's July Cup winner had drifted in the betting for the Group One race of late amid rumours, denied by connections, that he had pulled a muscle.

But he showed his wellbeing in a gallop at trainer John Dunlop's yard yesterday.

Elnadim is 13-8 favourite (from 6-4) with William Hill for tomorrow's race and will be bidding to become the first July Cup winner to follow up in the furlong shorter Nunthorpe since Cadeaux Genereux in 1989.