THE LOCAL trainer John Dunlop has positively farmed the Lupe Stakes in recent years and he can land the Goodwood Listed race again today with Dust Dancer.

A half-sister to Bulaxie, one of four Dunlop's winners of the final major Oaks trial in the past five years, Dust Dancer failed to win last season when her best effort was a third to Loch Angel in Ascot's Blue Seal Stakes. But she started this term in positive fashion by landing a Leicester maiden in March despite showing signs that she was not at her best on the firm ground.

Pat Eddery had to be at his strongest to keep the filly straight as she came to the business end of the race after making virtually all in the seven-furlong event.

Dust Dancer should be more at home on today's softer surface and will not be inconvenienced by the extra three furlongs.

Gerald Cottrell can maintain his stranglehold on the Goodwood Park Stakes. He sent out first and second in this quite valuable six-furlong handicap 12 months ago, with Mointserrat getting the better of Purple Fling.

The runner-up tries again this year but may again be beaten by a stable-companion in Akalim who could prove a bargain at the 10,000 guineas Cottrell paid for him last autumn.

Successful at Newmarket and Nottingham as a juvenile, he showed plenty of ability from a stiff mark in the handicap for David Morley last season.

A move to sprint specialist Cottrell, a gelding operation and a drop in his official rating all combine to make the four-year-old a very interesting contender on his first run of the year.