Food and Events

"But he is a difficult ride."The riding performance of Richard Hughes was therefore greeted by the number of bouquets to which Elizabeth Taylor is accustomed. The Irishman's patience appeared a complex model of how to persuade a thoroughbred home, but Hughes himself had a more rustic explanation for his mount's success. "I just gave him three smacks around the backside as hard as I could and away we went," he said. "He hadn't much chance to stop then."Dance Parade was a more fathomable proposition in the Queen Mary Stakes as she started at 8-1, but as she was one of three runners from Paul Cole's yard, and not the most fancied, the air was hardly thick with top hats. The Whatcombe trainer's stable survived a thunderous storm two weeks ago, when Cole was perhaps the least troubled by the tempest.

"It was a rap on the knuckles for him," Lellouche said through an interpreter.A similar admonishment should be delivered to anyone who ignores the Chantilly trainer's runners in Britain. Peslier's instincts were proved correct as the runners met the roar, his partner collecting the lead 100 yards out and repelling Last Second, who left her challenge as late as her name suggests.The victory was also a triumph for Elie Lellouche, the winner's trainer, who legged up Peslier in preference to his regular rider, Dominique Boeuf. Boeuf had been criticised for rides on both Shake The Yoke in the French Guineas and Helissio in the Prix du Jockey-Club and was replaced for this mission. The Frenchman has but a dozen rides in Britain in his log yet he has already mastered the different discipline of riding within these shores. On the Continent, the tendency is to dawdle in the early stages, the jockeys whistling skywards before making a dart in the straight; here the runners go from the off as if a jaguar is crouched above the starting stalls It all comes alike to Peslier "It is no problem," the rider said.

"I have ridden in Japan where they go very fast." Such confidence would not have been shared by all Shake The Yoke's supporters (including one punter who staked pounds 10,000) as the filly swung into the straight with considerable ground to make up on the pacemaking Dance Design. It was a scramble, but Shake The Yoke got there in the Coronation Stakes yesterday. Success, a late-gained success, for the French filly was yet further proof that Olivier Peslier has graduated to the top level of Europe's jockeys. The 13 who beat France are retained, but Larder will not finalise his team until Monday.The Bradford Bulls coach, Brian Smith, is the target for Australian club, Parramatta. Smith, appointed a year ago, has had great success at Bradford, but the lure of wealthy Parramattare could be strong.ENGLAND SQUAD (v Wales, Cardiff, European Championship): Backs: S Blakeley (Salford), G Connolly (Wigan), S Edwards (Wigan), B Goulding (St Helens), P Newlove (St Helens), M Offiah (Wigan), D Powell (Keighley), S Prescott (St Helens), K Radlinski (Wigan), J Robinson (Wigan).

Larder will now have to choose between him and Shaun Edwards. Also back in the squad are the captain, Andy Farrell, Mick Cassidy, Kris Radlinski and Daryl Powell.Farrell and Cassidy demonstrated their fitness by playing for Wigan at the weekend, but Radlinski and Powell have to play this weekend to stake their claims. Goulding missed England's win over France at Gateshead, but proved his fitness for St Helens against Workington on Sunday, completing the fastest- ever century of goals. He was Phil Larder's original choice for the French game and is still regarded as an essential part of the side. Replacements: D James (Bridgend), A Thomas (Swansea), A Moore (Cardiff), M Voyle (Newport), J Davies (Neath), B Williams (Neath).. Rugby League Bobbie Goulding is back in the England squad for the European Championship decider at Cardiff next week after recovering from a cracked collar-bone. Replacements: D Stark (Boroughmuir), C Chalmers (Melrose), A Nicol (Bath), S Murray (Edinburgh Academicals), T Smith (Watsonians), G Ellis (Currie).WALES (v Australia, Sydney, second Test, Saturday): W Proctor (Llanelli); I Evans (Llanelli), G Thomas (Pontypridd), N Davies (Llanelli), S Hill (Cardiff); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), R Howley (Richmond); C Loader (Swansea), J Humphreys (Cardiff, capt), L Mustoe (Cardiff), G Llewellyn (Harlequins), D Jones (Cardiff), A Gibbs (Newbridge), H Taylor (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath).