I wish it would hurry up."There will be a distaff winner of a Leger this afternoon however when a field of nine go to post for the Park Hill Stakes, colloquially known as the Fillies' Leger.Barry Hills is doubly represented and brings forth an insuperable record to this meeting. Over the last five years, the trainer has saddled 16 winners here and though that is in part due to the great trundling convoy of boxes he sends to the meeting, blind bets on his runners still show a distinct profit.Hills's pairing here is composed of Bright And Clear and the probable favourite, Alexander Three D, the winner of a notable warm-up for this contest, York's Galtres Stakes. Back in third and staying on well that day was Frosty Welcome (next best 3.25). As Hills's record is factored into the price of his fillies, Geoff Wragg's representative looks the value.Barrington has runners in all the televised races and opens up with a persuasive entrant in Judhoor, who fits the winning profile here of being near the top of the weights and from a stable that has won it three times before.This, though, may be the first of Hills's curses as one line of form, through her stablemate Fancy Lady, details that Judhoor is going to have a considerable trial in coping with Richard Hannon's Thirsk winner, ZITHER (nap 1.35).The money race is the auction house contest in which Hannon has another fancied runner in Mister Links. Close to him, in the stalls at least, will be the exposed and trusted formlines of stablemate Presto Vento and Mick Channon's Polar Force. Yet if the rain has got into the ground it may be that all the significant action will be up the other rail.In that eventuality, there is much to like about Cumbrian Venture (2.15), who could make all up the far side now that his attitude and form have been ignited by the introduction of blinkers.The Portland is probably not the brightest race in which to try to complete a Yankee, but the sprint looks more open than normal to a relatively young, improving horse. Three- and four-year-olds have a decent record here and, from the latter category, there is an interesting runner in Little Edward (2.50), who is trained by Brendan Powell Proof, if it was needed, that the jumpers are on their way..

It was apt that the earthmover digging up the famous Lord's outfield yesterday should be supplied by a company called Gamble, because that is just what the England selectors have done in selecting both Graham Thorpe and Darren Gough in their 16-man Ashes squad. The off-field problems surrounding the breakdown of his marriage and the subsequent access arrangements to his two children have thrown the life of the 33-year-old into turmoil.Because of such problems the Surrey left-hander announced his retirement from one-day international cricket earlier this summer before deciding to take a complete rest from the game. The major worry for Hussain is that Thorpe has failed to complete or participate in four of his side's last five tours.The England chairman of selectors, David Graveney, admitted such after announcing the squad. "Its a scenario where Graham can only state what he feels at this stage. Risk is the right word but there has been a change in his private life in the last couple of weeks that has made a huge difference.

It would be wrong for me to expand, however, I have noticed a change in him and people who have worked with him have expressed the same opinion. We looked at the risk involved when we [the selectors] met on Sunday and we decided to pick Graham. He is, after all, one of our better players."One of those who has been working with Thorpe, who averages 46 against the Aussies, is the former England manager Mickey Stewart. "Graham has been training for the last three weeks and I have had two net sessions with him," said Stewart, who has known him since he was 14 "I have never known him so upbeat and up for it He has decided he wants to give it a real go. He is as talkative now as he has ever been, which must be a good sign."And knowing what Thorpe has been thinking has always been one of the main problems for those attempting to work out his state of mind. He is a private man who gives little away but keeping problems to himself has led to him becoming deep and brooding at times.The selectors, who have gone out on a limb for Thorpe, will be desperately hoping that such behaviour is a thing of the past and his troubles are truly behind him because the damage of another early return home from an overseas tour would undermine England's slim chances of regaining the Ashes for the first time in 16 years and the reputations of those who have stood by him.On hearing the good news, however, an upbeat Thorpe said: "I am delighted to have been picked for the tour having not played for five or six weeks. There was a lot of doubt as to whether I would go and it is up to me to repay the faith that the selectors have shown in me."I feel the break has given me the chance to clear my mind and address the off-field issues which were there before.