DEXTER BEXLEY and the Big Blue Beastie on the Road (Doubleday; €13.90 HB), by Joel Stewart, is a sparkling story, best read aloud.

THE absence of St Nicholas Abbey takes some of the intrigue from today’s Investec Epsom Derby but, for all that the Ballydoyle team will miss the horse they believed ‘could walk on water’, the stable dominated the major trials and appears to hold all the aces today.

SHAGS, despite their prejudicial name, are elegant birds, much more attractive than their cousins, the cormorants.

ONE could only shake the old head in disbelief at the end of the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at Fairyhouse on Saturday. It had nothing to do with the fact hot-pot Cape Blanco obliged. That was as predictable as forecasting it will rain and rain throughout an Irish summer.

Cape will go in search of valuable black type in the Timeform Silver Salver at Haydock on May 31.

Frankie Dettori has Classic glory in his sights as the Italian eyes a historic victory at Newmarket in this weekend’s 200th running of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas.

Cape may bid to follow up a cosy success at Doncaster in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket next week.

JOHN GOSDEN’S Cape Cobra can make some small inroads into his 400,000 guineas price tag with victory in the first division of the Wise Catering Maiden Stakes at Salisbury today.

Red Cape seems to be striking form at the right time to make his presence felt in the pontins.com Handicap at Southwell tomorrow.

Sylvester Kirk hopes that Opera Cape’s fine effort at Longchamp two weeks ago has not taken the edge off him for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

It is incredible to think that Frankie Dettori, the rider who has broken down barriers and taken racing to the wider public, has yet to win the world’s most famous race.

ByAnita Chambers