Bionic was yesterday well backed to win next year's Sagitta 1,000 Guineas with bookmakers Coral, who were forced to trim her to 7 to 1 from 8 to 1 as the liabilities mounted up.

Only two fillies have so far attracted any support of note for the 1999 fillies' Classic, the Henry Cecil-trained Bionic and Mick Channon's Bint Allayl, and they share favouritism in Coral's list.

"Bionic has been backed at all rates down from 33 to 1 and today's support took our liabilities on the filly to well over six figures," reported a Coral spokesman.

"Up until now the 1,000 Guineas ante-post market has lacked strength and depth and we desperately need some exciting performances by the fillies this autumn to explode it into life," he added.

1999 Sagitta 1,000 Guineas: 7/1 Bint Allayl, Bionic (from 8/1), 16/1 Etizaaz, 20/1 Valentine Girl, Fairy Queen, Crystal Charm, 25/1 Circle Of Gold, Kareymah, Pescara, Wannabe Grand, Mother Of Pearl, Mythical Girl. William Hill prices: 7/1 Bint Allayl, Bionic, 16/1 Crystal Charm, 20/1 Etizaaz, Kareymah, 25/1 Circle Of Gold, Sakha, 33/1 bar

It took more than 25 minutes after the advertised start time of 2.15 before the winner of the opening race at Pontefract yesterday was known. Problems were first caused when Bodfari Anna broke loose, causing a 10-minute delay to the start of the Computer Timeform Nursery.

Then there was a further hold-up as the judge Mark Ritchie-Noakes was forced to inspect a print after a tight finish. Cashiki had crossed the line with Montague Tigg, and eventually got the nod.

Initial inspection on television suggested that Montague Tigg had prevailed but bookmakers in the ring offered him at 11 to 10 to get the verdict with Cashiki 4 to 6.