The last three winners of the Greenham have at least been placed in a Classic. The 1998 winner, Victory Note, went on to secure the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas). Enrique went down by a neck at Newmarket in 1999 and was runner-up in the Irish equivalent, and, last year, Barathea Guest was third in the Rowley Mile Classic.There will have to be an upset of Nayef proportions if Tamburlaine (3.00) is to be denied this time around. The vibes all week have been that he is the premier colt at Richard Hannon's yard and, following the Craven victory of his stablemate King's Ironbridge, he is vying for 2,000 Guineas favouritism with Tobougg.

The forecast option is Frenchmans Bay, who was a debut third to Clearing in the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes on this track last October.The Fred Darling Stakes will also provide useful Classic pointers for the fillies. Lahan was fourth in the race last year before collecting the 1,000 Guineas, while the 1999 winner, Wince, also took the fillies' Classic. Others to complete the double in recent years are Bosra Sham (1996), Shadayid (1991) and Salsabil (1990).Alshadiyah (2.30) may not be in their league, but she does have factors on her side. She has won on soft ground and comes from the foremost winner factory in the country at the moment, John Dunlop's Castle Stables.Scotland's leading jumps race of the season, Ayr's Scottish Grand National, will go ahead without one of the ante-post favourites following the elimination of Venetia Williams's Ardstown. She will now be represented solely by Royale De Vassy.A total of 11 casualties from Aintree's version will go to post today, including Paddy's Return, who was responsible for the Canal Turn mayhem which blighted the great race. "Paddy's Return is 100 per cent and does not have a bother about him," Ferdy Murphy, the gelding's trainer, said "He's been cantering and I'm very pleased with him.

Although he unfortunately caused a lot of trouble at Aintree, he was not injured."Noble Lord missed that m?e before eventually capsizing at the 13th and now attempts to improve on his runner's-up position behind Paris Pike 12 months ago. "He's fine after the National," Richard Phillips, his trainer, said yesterday. "Going to Aintree has really sharpened him up."I know it was only the first circuit but he had been jumping well when he got a bit close to the 13th. It's the first time he has fallen."Looking at his form figures you would think he had no right to run at Ayr but there are excuses. He got stuck in the Great Yorkshire and the race turned into a bit of a sprint, which didn't suit him, and at Warwick it was unraceable, it was dreadful ground. He jumps better on good ground and tomorrow we are hoping for another performance like last year's."GINGEMBRE (nap 4.00) finished ahead of Noble Lord in the Great Yorkshire and has been rested since Doncaster. It is a move which should be rewarded as conditions have come in his favour."He has a very high cruising speed," Lavinia Taylor, the seven-year-old's trainer, said.

"After discussions with Andrew Thornton [Gingembre's jockey on his last three outings] we have decided that he is much better on a flat, left-handed track. That is why we're not going for the Whitbread."Further opportunities have been presented for Bring Sweets (3.20), who seems to be thriving on his racing, and Be My Manager (next best 2.50), who is reckoned to have a future as glittering as that of Best Mate by his trainer, Henrietta Knight That should be good enough for all of us.. Historical precedent, a crisis of confidence or simple kidology? Whatever the reason, Mark Williams, the world No1 and defending world champion, has tipped Ronnie O'Sullivan to win this year's world championship, which starts at the Crucible in Sheffield today. Historical precedent, a crisis of confidence or simple kidology? Whatever the reason, Mark Williams, the world No1 and defending world champion, has tipped Ronnie O'Sullivan to win this year's world championship, which starts at the Crucible in Sheffield today. "If O'Sullivan turns up in the right frame of mind, I think he'll win," said Williams, who will need to confound both precedent and the recent form book if he is to retain the title, a feat which no first-time winner ­ as Williams was last year ­ has ever achieved."I'm not saying I can't beat him because I think I can and know I can," Williams added. "But he's the man to beat."Last year Williams beat his fellow Welshman, Matthew Stevens, in one of the tournament's most memorable finals. Having lost 18-11 to Stephen Hendry in the 1999 final, he again appeared to be on his way to the runners-up spot as he trailed Stevens 13-7. But that was before a spectacular comeback which saw him winning 18-16.Williams has suffered a dip in form this season and has admitted that he is hoping rather than expecting that his confidence will return before his opening match, against Scotland's Billy Snaddon, the world No 27, starts this morning."Everybody goes through bad patches through the year, and I hit a big patch, " Williams said.

"I've found it hard to get out the other end of that patch, but hopefully I can do that in Sheffield As defending champion, the pressure will be intense. But if I can handle that pressure, and everything that goes with it, I should be OK."It's going to be a tough match against Billy, but there are no easy matches any more. The standard is so high it wouldn't be that big a shock if I got beaten But I'm looking forward to the tournament. I'm defending champion and hopefully I can overcome the nerves and start playing well."Pressed on why his confidence has been low, Williams said: "Everything's been lacking a bit. Once you lose a bit of confidence it affects your whole game."His answer was especially appropriate given that the whole sport has been low on confidence this year, overshadowed as it has been by the threat of a breakaway tour. The ongoing power struggle between the World Snooker Association and the management and events' company, 110 Sport (formerly The Sportsmasters Network), has seemed to affect a number of leading players.