RACING: A dramatic finale to the Flat season is guaranteed at Leopardstown tomorrow where Michael Kinane and John Murtagh have eight races in which to decide who will be the 2002 champion jockey.Both are locked on the 76 winner mark and both have a ride in every race.

However, that hasn't stopped bookmakers installing the 11 times champion Kinane as a hot favourite to come out on top. Ladbrokes have Kinane as short as 4 to 9 to win out while he was also backed with Paddy Power yesterday and they now make him an 8 to 13 favourite.

That leaves Murtagh at a tempting 13 to 8 with Ladbrokes but those tempted to bet "the draw" can get 7 to 4 a tie with Cashmans of Cork.

On balance, Kinane could be a worthwhile favourite but it looks unwise to take too short a price about him winning out. His big plus is in the opener where the Danzig colt Salt Lake City is likely to be an odds-on shot to score. Aidan O'Brien could also supply a vital winner with Yesterday in the Eyrefield Stakes.

But Murtagh has his chances too. His presence on Kooyong in the Nursery is a tip in itself considering the presence in the race of the Aga Khan runner Akash, and Chartres looks to hold good claims of beating Masnada in the Heather Race.

In the featured November Handicap, Kinane's shout could be louder than his rival's on Find The King but both will do well to get the better of Beef Or Salmon. Michael Hourigan's horse isn't the most fluent over hurdles but he has won half his six starts on the level and is proven on the soft. The top English lightweight Fran Norton travels for the ride and Hourigan won the race with Dorans Pride only two years ago.

All of which means the title race could come down to the last race and if it does, Kinane looks to hold a slight edge. He rides Arch Stanton who put an easy four lengths between himself and Yukon at Clonmel last time. Kinane rode Yukon to score at Thurles on Thursday so he knows what kind of card he has to play.

At tomorrow's other fixture in Cork, the stamina test of the Cork Grand National should be ideal for Woodenbridge Natif.