Oath can defy the doubters and silence the knockers with victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot today.

It has become something of a tradition to try and pick holes in the Vodafone Derby form in recent years, but the subsequent efforts of runner-up Daliapour when again second in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh last month suggest that the form might be quite solid.

And though Daliapour was comfortably second best behind Montjeu in Ireland, he was equally firmly put in his place by Oath.

The doubters will remind that Oath is a mere babe, a stripling of only three years, and an inexperienced one at that. They will tell you that Oath has never raced on a right-handed track and that he suffered a training setback that prevented him from running at the Curragh.

The danger to Oath is the possible lack of early pace.

Like virtually all of his seven rivals, Oath can take a bit of settling and the lack of a definite pacemaker in the race could prove his downfall.

But his pilot Kieren Fallon will have considered all possible eventualities and it would not be the greatest surprise in the world to see Oath hold a prominent position throughout before burning off his rivals from the front.

Trainer Henry Cecil has a good line to Daylami through the grey's Tattersalls Gold Cup conqueror Shiva and though he is respected on his Vodafone Coronation Cup success last time out, he may have been flattered by the way the race panned out tactically.

So the greatest danger to the selection may prove to be Fruits Of Love, who impressed when scoring at Royal Ascot last time out.

County Durham trainer Brian Ellison can land the day's Showcase Handicap, the £20,000-added Crocker Bulteel Stakes, with Taffs Well.

Ellison sends the six-year-old on this southern raid after his latest win at Newcastle, where he beat Floating Charge by a cheeky neck.

He had earlier scored at Musselburgh, Chester and Haydock and though he continues to rise in the weights, this may not be too competitive a heat for the money on offer.

Journalist will be a warm order for the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes and justifiably so, if the style of her debut success is anything to go by.

At Newcastle, Eastern Purple can take the Group Three Reed Print Beeswing Stakes.

He ran a blinder when fifth of 19 to Bold Edge in the Cork & Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, apparently having lost a shoe in the process.

Just as effective at this seven-furlong trip, arguably more so, he will not be found wanting in a battle.

The Metro Centre Handicap is a trappy contest because in-form trainer David Nicholls appears to hold the aces with all three of his runners looking live contenders.

All three are well-handicapped on the pick of their form but a narrow vote goes to Double Oscar, possibly the least-fancied of the trio. Donna's Double can gain a deserved win in the £10,000-added Stanley Racing Handicap.

Don Eddy's gelding, who progressed well last year, showed his turn is near when two lengths second of 14 to Court Express at Hamilton last time.

With stablemate Mister Creek heading the weights in the valuable totalbet.com Summer Special Handicap Chase at Market Rasen, the Martin Pipe-trained Art Prince must be fancied off a featherweight.

Literary Society can make a happy return to Ascot in the Ladbroke Rated Stakes on Sunday.

Things can hardly go worse for him than on his last visit to the track!

He was sent off third favourite for the Wokingham Stakes at last month's Royal meeting only to unseat jockey Seb Sanders leaving the stalls.

The five-year-old has been given plenty of time to recover from that experience by trainer James Toller and his supporters look set to recoup their losses.

Literary Society is a smart top-of-the-ground sprinter who will have conditions in his favour on Sunday.

Having started this season high in the weights after a very successful 1998 campaign, the gelding has slipped a little in the handicap of late and now looks potentially favourably treated.

And a third place at Kempton on his last completed start in May hinted that a return to form is imminent.

Salty Jack will be very hard to beat in the Tote Scoop6 Handicap at Newmarket.

He met trouble in running in the Bunbury Cup over this course and distance last time out yet failed by just a length and a quarter to catch well-backed winner Grangeville.

This £25,000-added event looks the perfect consolation prize.