The Richmond Stakes winner is out to give Meehan a second win in this race following Bad As I Wannabe's millennium triumph.O'Brien might be greedy and win this as well, for the fourth time, following the exploits of Orpen (1998), Fasliyev (1999) and Johannesburg (2001). He saddles three runners in the shape of Colossus (Kieren Fallon), Old Deuteronomy (Jamie Spencer) and the probable pacemaker, Haydn (Colm O'Donoghue).. Each year, the start of the domestic boxing season creeps out of the summer and by the end of November several decent fights have taken place or been scheduled, but this year September will be one of the busiest months for 40 years. Sky or the BBC will show 10 nights of live or tape-delayed boxing.There will be nine title fights, including seven for a variety of the baubles on offer from the sport's sanctioning bodies. However, there will also be a world-title eliminator next Friday for the International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight crown, involving Clinton Woods and Jamaica's Glencoffe Johnson at Ponds Forge International Centre in Sheffield.Meanwhile, Dagenham awaits the inaugural English heavyweight title on 18 Sep-tember between Michael Holden and former full-contact fighting champion Matt Skelton.
The Scottish light-welterweight title and the Irish lightweight title will also be contested.Skelton is the main attraction in a new Sky series, developed by Frank Warren, called Fight Skool. It will take place each month with boxers from a list of 35 prospects. The idea is to raise the profile of young prospects in their own shows and not as undercard attractions when Warren's world champions defend their titles.On the same night that Skelton boxes, there are two other shows in London, including the first from promoter Mickey Helliet at the Marriott in Grosvenor Square.Helliet has put together a package aimed at a different crowd to the 1,200 which regularly filled York Hall last season. His show will feature a champagne reception and meal, live pre-fight entertainment and VIP tickets to a West End club for an after-fight party."I'm trying to put a bit of style back into the boxing world," said Helliet.A night likely to appeal to old-fashioned fans will take place in Nottingham on 20 September at a leisure centre on the city's sprawling outskirts when two local boxers contest world titles.Jawaid Khaliq defends his International Boxing Organisation welterweight crown and local idol Nicky Booth fights Nathan Sting for the World Boxing Union bantamweight title. It will not be a night for the squeamish nor the purists, but for 1,000 punters, it will be memorable.The following night, at the Bristol Marriott, Jane Couch will box and promote once again.
"I was having difficulty getting on shows so I took the risk and decided to promote myself," said Couch, whose last bout was in June as chief support to Lennox Lewis in his world heavyweight title defence against Vitali Klitschko.On 22 September, at the Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes, Christine Dalton stages a show.The BBC will also screen the ongoing career of Audley Harrison, whose next fight will be against somebody with a pulse at the Level Night Club in Miami on 9 September. November promises yet more entertainment.Steve Bunce will be a member of the BBC's broadcasting team this autumn. Steve Backley was left with an anxious two-hour wait at a rainswept Stade de France yesterday before learning whether he had done enough to reach tomorrow's javelin final. I don't know what causes it - I will have to get it sorted out at the end of the season."The 23-year-old Commonwealth and European silver medallist, who qualified for the final with an effort of 6.62 metres, 11 centimetres below her personal best, believes that France's heptathlon silver medallist Eunice Barber, top qualifier in 6.82 metres, is the favourite."At the Commonwealths and Europeans last year I was an underdog, and I see myself as a little underdog in the final here," Johnson said. "If I manage to make the top eight and get a personal best I will be delighted.". The headline in yesterday's L'Equipe spoke of French pride in their performance at these World Championships - "Le compteur a quatre".
