Shiva can upstage some bigger names in the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket today. Training problems have restricted the filly to just four career outings and prevented her acquiring the star status of such as High-Rise, Alborada or Greek Dance.

Indeed, had Royal Anthem still been in Henry Cecil's yard Shiva may well not even have made the cast for this Group One.

But it would be no surprise to see her steal the limelight from rivals whose reputations are more daunting than their form.

Shiva's form certainly entitled her to more than a walk-on part in this £400,000 contest.

On just her second outing, she belied inexperience to win the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket in April.

And she showed real star quality on her Group One debut in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh a month later, coming from behind to beat Daylami by a comfortable two lengths.

That effort had Cecil hailing her as "potentially one of the best fillies in Europe".

Ignore her modest effort in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, where the going was much too firm for a filly prone to knee problems.

Shiva can justify her trainer's high opinion when ground conditions will be ideal. And the opposition is not first-rate.

The last race 1998 Derby winner High-Rise won over this mile-and-a-quarter trip was a classified stakes at Pontefract and he has yet to reproduce his best form this season.

Last year's winner Alborada has also been under a cloud this term, while highly-touted Greek Dance has still to deliver in a big race.

The Tote Cesarewitch looks far more competitive. Any shortlist must include previous winner Spirit Of Love, last year's placed horses Etterby Park and Spunkie plus Far Cry, who lifted the Doncaster Cup last month.

And the heavy ante-post support for Silent Warning should be heeded, given his shrewd trainer Mark Prescott's record in handicaps.

But one who could beat them all - at double-figure odds - is Fnan. This late-maturing three-year-old is four times a winner and twice second in six starts since he was stepped up to long distances.

The absence of Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten dual Group One winner Fasliyev robs the Dewhurst Stakes of some of its interest, though stable-companions Brahms and Zentsov Street should not be dismissed given their trainer's record.

Not that Barry Hills will be complaining as it boosts the chance of his Champagne Stakes winner Distant Music, who should strengthen his position as 2,000 Guineas favourite with another success.

Best action away from Newmarket is over jumps at Kempton where the £20,000 prize fund has attracted a decent field for the Charisma Gold Cup. Best treated at the weights in this three-mile event is Grimley Gale, who has been sweeping all before her in hunter chases yet is rated only 125 on her handicap debut.