Tipping / Carl Harris / 11 May 2009 /

Carl Harris believes that Laa Rayb can show his class and his rivals a clean pair of heels...

I thought Fame and Glory was mightily impressive yesterday, proving he is definitely Ballydoyle's leading Derby contender. The bookmakers may have overreacted but I am firmly of the view that Fame and Glory is the best Derby horse we have seen to date. That could change this week as York stages their three day meeting which includes the Dante Stakes, widely acknowledged as the leading Derby Trial in the UK. I will be there for the three days and I can't wait!

Nothing so grand on offer today, with one notable exception. Windsor stages a very competitive Listed race (6.50) over one mile where seven of the eight runners have an official rating over 100. The class act on show is Mark Johnston's Laa Rayb, a Group 3 winner in France who boasts an official mark of 114. He made his seasonal debut last time at Ascot where he had main market rival Ordnance Row behind. Laa Rayb and Royston Ffrench have formed a fruitful partnership which can be further enhanced by collecting the £23,000 first prize.

Laa Rayb is sure to have come on for that Ascot race and if he performs to the calibre that saw him keep Group 2 and Group 3 company last season his rivals will struggle to peg him back. I backed Laa Rayb to win a big field handicap at Ascot last year where his turn of foot was devastating and Royston Ffrench won on him going away, I expect to see a similar scenario unfold at Windsor. Abbondanza looks the improver in the field but is stepping up from All-Weather Handicaps, whereas Laa Raayb is dropping down to Listed company.

Laa Rayb looks to have everything in his favour today and should outclass this field. I make Laa Rayb my best bet of the day, in fact Laa Rayb is my only bet of the day.

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