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Title-chasing Douglas Whyte is on holiday but it will be strictly business when he checks out Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner, London News.

 Whyte left for home hours after Saturday's Sha Tin races but confirmed a meeting with good friend Alec Laird, trainer of the exciting London News.

 Said Whyte: 'I spoke to Alec a few days ago and he was desperate for me to ride in the Queen's Plate but the dates are wrong by a day.

 'But Alec told me that it is very probable that London News will be returning to Sha Tin for the QEII Cup.

 'He is following the same programme exactly as last year and the horse is in good shape.

 'It is quite likely that I will be having a spin on him at some stage,' added Whyte.

 The leading jockey rode London News at Royal Ascot last year when he finished third to Bosra Sham - admittedly by almost 15 lengths.

 He then ran very flat in Ireland when Whyte was on a belated honeymoon to Paris and returned to South Africa.

 'He wasn't himself after the Ascot race and in hindsight it was probably a mistake to run him in Ireland.

 'But he is in fine form now and I think he is capable of tackling the QEII Cup again, although he is a year older,' said Whyte.

 As Whyte headed home, defending champion jockey Basil Marcus was heading for a break in Phuket.

 'I am looking forward to it tremendously. It's a perfect time for a break and I think both Douglas and I are ready for one,' Marcus said.

 'I am not thinking much about the title now, just relaxing. But I think it is very good for racing that it is going like this.

 'I don't see why it should not go on to the end of the season.'  Marcus had hopes of riding four on Saturday at the last meeting before Christmas but Striker, a top hope, finished second in the final event.

 Whyte was confident of riding one winner, but optimistic that it could be two.

 'Three was a bonus - a big bonus,' he said.

 Whyte's three-timer sees the pair locked on 36 winners each in the race for the jockeys' title.



Whyte to find out the latest on London News