Sylva Paradise can bring a smile back to Clive Brittain's face in the City Index Rated Stakes at Ascot today. Brittain has had a season to forget so far, his string having been laid low with a virus for most of the term.

The five-year-old showed that he retains plenty of ability when third to Literary Society at Newmarket at the end of May.

And though that rival re-opposes here, Sylva Paradise meets him on 8lb better terms for under two lengths and should overturn those placings. A slightly disappointing third subsequently at Yarmouth is probably best put down to a poor draw and slow early pace.

Compton Admiral can overturn `talking horse' Killer Instinct in the EBF Maiden. The vibes emanating from Warren Place in recent weeks suggest that Henry Cecil's newcomer is a serious racehorse - he is already favourite for next year's Sagitta 2,000 Guineas!

But there is no substitute for racecourse experience and no matter how forward Killer Instinct may be, he has yet to encounter the cheers and tears of the track.

Compton Admiral, on the other hand, knows just what it is to be bumped and baulked, having looked bitterly unlucky when second to Rhapsodist in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

High-Rise, curiously free of the hype that normally surrounds a winner of the Epsom Derby, is ready to scale the heights again in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot tomorrow. A spokeswoman for trainer Luca Cumani said yesterday: "Everybody at Bedford House could not be happier with him. The horse is in great form - there's been more than a month to prepare him for the race - and he will go to Ascot a fresh horse."