IF professional opinion is to be believed, lightning will not strike twice at Ascot today.

Connections reckon Frankie Dettori is unlikely to repeat the history-making feat of going through the card at a seven-race meeting he achieved on the same course a fortnight ago.

Dettori has a mount in every race but the trainers for whom he is riding are far from confident about his prospects.

His first mount, Catwalk, "may have gone over the top", according to Derby-winning handler William Haggas.

John Gosden, who supplied the fourth of the Italian's magnificent seven" last month in Decorated Hero, is worried about the claims of Spout and Papering up against his Altamura in the feature Princess Royal Stakes.

And in the last race, Threadneedle has plenty of weight and I don't think he will have enough experience", according to Lord Huntingdon.

But bookmakers are taking no chances after Dettori's seven timer two weeks ago, which the William Hill spokesman, David Hood, said yesterday cost his firm £8 million.

Neither William Hill, Coral nor Ladbrokes would offer odds about the dual-champion jockey going through the card again. "I asked our odds-compiler, Mike Bellamy, to come up with a price but he said that would add insult to injury!" Hood said.

An accumulator on Dettori's seven mounts a fortnight ago paid 25,095 to 1. PA Sport's estimate of the likely odds on each of his rides today suggests punters could enjoy an even bigger payday this time - the seven-timer would work out at an incredible 598,751 to 1!