Horse racing: Miss Lahar can teach rivals a lesson over minimum trip at Chepstow

Although still a maiden after four tries, one of which being a painful odds-on reverse at Bath in June, she is not short of speed.

That was borne out in the Princess Margaret at Ascot two weeks ago, when she belied 100-1 odds to take third behind Angels Will Fall and Regal Realm.

The Clodovil filly has so far shaped as though six, or maybe even seven, furlongs, would be her forte, but she will have no problem dropping down to the minimum trip for this engagement. Miss Lahar is comfortably the stand-out horse in this humdrum encounter.

Baptist's recent foray to Newmarket puts him bang in the frame for top honours at Haydock and he carries the nap.

The Tapit colt made an immediate splash for Andrew Balding, winning on debut last September before being pitched into the Autumn Stakes, in which he was not disgraced.

Highclere's three-year-old found things a little too hot in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, but gave a telling reminder of his worth at the July meeting.

Baptist travelled well in a competitive one-mile handicap, in which he stayed on for third behind Albaasil and Dimension - both of whom have since shaped with some panache.

Balding will be thrilled the handicapper has left him alone for the TurfTV.co.uk Handicap, in which he can fully exploit a mark of 87.

Fire Fighter would not have to show a great deal of improvement to take the three-runner ladbrokespoker.com Handicap at Folkestone. The Tiger Hill colt has been thumped by the handicapper following his success over a mile and a half here at the beginning of July, but there are enough factors to suggest he can offset a 7lb rise.

Fire Fighter firstly takes a huge step up in trip - a typical Sir Mark Prescott ploy - which seems to mesh nicely with his stout pedigree, while the standard of opposition is threadbare.

Grandmas Dream deserves a change of fortune in the Cheam Handicap at Sandown. Jim Best's filly has yet to win on the turf, but has shown a consistent streak this summer, finishing second on her past three runs.

She ran over course and distance in June when she got to within two lengths of the above-average Alpha Delta Whisky. She returns for this five-furlong heat off the same mark, with her ability to handle the stiff uphill finish in Esher not open for debate.

Mina's Boy, a dramatic scorer at Beverley last time, can put his stamina to good use in the Avenue Pub Handicap at Yarmouth.

Plattsburgh should also go well in the Dynamic New Corsa Now At Frosts Challenge Cup at Brighton.

Meanwhile, Workforce is "progressing well" as connections build towards the defence of his crown in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

Last year's Derby and Arc hero was favourite for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month, but finished second to Nathaniel after hanging in the straight.

Connections later reported the four-year-old to be lame after he was struck into by the fatally injured Rewilding. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He's progressing well and we've found nothing particularly untoward with him. There are one or two bits and bobs, but nothing very major.

"We'll carry on with him and we'll just have to see how he goes before we make any plans. Obviously the aim would be the Arc."

Amy Ryan will appeal against the 28-day ban given to her for failing to ride a finish on Beneath, trained by her father Kevin, during the all-ladies card at Carlisle on Monday evening.

Ryan was caught on the line by Daytime Dreamer as she appeared to drop her hands. Her agent Richard Hale said: "She is going to appeal her ban, not to lose the whole thing but to appeal against the length."